Secret gods

Gen 31:32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
Gen 31:33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
Gen 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

Rachel was Jacob's favorite wife. He thought that she could do no wrong. She was pretty and well endowed, but what of her soul? Often a person marries for the outward appearance, but what of the heart? Rachel left her father's house to follow her husband Jacob but she stole her father's gods and hid them. These little idols she trusted in more than the God of Jacob, the God of Israel. Perhaps she just did a foolish thing, being rather naive?

Jacob not knowing that his beloved Rachel had taken the idols (love is blind) then placed a curse of death on the one who stole Laban's gods. Rachel had been unable to have children, but now things were looking good for her because she had given birth to a son Joseph and was looking forward to giving birth to another son.

Gen 30:24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

Was it the curse on the one who took the gods that took Sarah's life when Benjamin her second son was born? I don't know, but from this we should learn not to curse or condemn anyone. Jesus taught us that he came to seek and to save that which was lost. We are to do this too. Watch your words and do not condemn another, vengeance is of God.

Another woman had an obedient heart towards obeying the God of Jacob, her name was Ruth. Naomi spoke to Ruth:

Rth 1:15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
Rth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Rth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth gave up other gods for the one true God. What secret gods do we have that need to be given up? Be kind to others and search your own heart for secret gods; it is easy to condemn another, but it is not of God to do so. Secret idols interfere with your commitment to the God of Israel. Serve the true God and not a god of this world. Worship and pray to the God of Jacob in secret and he will reward you openly.

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.