Even if you don’t use stones, building memory markers helps remind you of God’s loving care.
For seven days, Laban has chased Jacob south, primarily to reclaim the family idols. Jacob is irate that Laban would accuse them of such a thing. “With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live,” he says (Gen 31:32). Then the author lets us in on a secret. “Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.” Oh, no! His beloved Rachel is now under the sentence of death! Not ready to take his son-in-law’s word for it, Laban and his men begin the search. But Rachel had lived surrounded by tricksters and wasn’t above her own deceptive ploys and schemes. “Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them” (v 34). When Laban approaches her, she begs his indulgence at not getting up, saying it was her time of the month. Thus Laban comes up empty-handed. Jacob takes the opportunity to tell his father-in-law a thing or two and, both men having vented their anger, things finally settled down. It’s time for a peace talk. The first thing Jacob does is instruct his men to gather boulders and pile them into a landmark. This was a common practice in ancient times, providing markers both to show the way in the future and to enshrine memories to keep from forgetting the past. As Jeremiah told those who were being taken into captivity in Babylon 1400 years later, “Set up signposts, make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went” (Jer 31:21). Don’t forget the way home! So Jacob and Laban didn’t want to forget the peace treaty they made that day. It was called Galeed, “a heap of testimony.” If you’re a believer, you should never forget your testimony either, the day you were “justified by faith,” and now “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).