Observation: Part of this topic was covered before, but it is greatly relevant here ... Abraham and Nahor were brothers, however it is most likely their father Terah did not believe in Yahweh. Most experts agree that Terah's profession was an idol-maker, which is why he moved the family to Haran (and Abraham's other brother is named Haran). The "household god" Rachel stole was likely a family heirloom originally made by her great-great-grandfather.
This of course begs the question ... whom is Laban calling upon to judge between himself and Jacob? The God of Abraham is Yahweh. However, his father was most likely a polytheist who worshipped several gods common in Mesopotamia. There is no record about Nahor's faith, if he followed his father or if he adopted his brother's singular belief in Yahweh, though it seems his ancestral line is at least familiar with Yahweh. There is reason to doubt if Labon exclusively worships Yahweh, with the best evidence against this being the existence of - and importance given to - the idol in his home.
That said, by invoking "God" not by any name at all but under the umbrella of three family patriarchs who very clearly had different belief systems, Laban is doing what he always does. He is manipulating the situation to cover all the bases, so that no matter what Jacob believes - now or in the future - this covenant will still apply. By everything he declares, Laban sets the terms of how he and Jacob are to interact, and manipulates it all so every term is in his favor. However, the net result will be harm only to himself ... Laban will die lonely, and never again see his daughters or grandchildren ever again.
Application: The complicated attitude and actions of Laban intersect interestingly with the issues in the middle east still today, especially in the contextual fact that Jacob IS Israel.
It is unclear if Laban really worships Yahweh, and if he does he has tagged on several characteristics or understandings of the Lord that are contradictory to the Lord's nature. Laban is out to swindle and deceive Jacob/Israel, going so far as to threaten Israel simply because he had the gall to succeed through hard work. Laban declares terms under which Israel can function that are very one-sided in his favor, then gets angry when Israel succeeds within the framework of that agreement while he suffers. Laban even declares that 'property' that very, very obviously and unequivocally belongs to Israel - his children! - actually belong to him. Finally, Laban calls on a vague and ambiguous version of "God" to oppose Israel, ignorant of the fact that the Lord has a covenant relationship with Israel.
In a very literal sense, Jacob is Israel. In a metaphorical yet very clear sense, Laban is the middle east. Before Jacob was even renamed Israel, God showed us the behavioral pattern of the future ... others will hate God's people and work to undermine and harm them, even when that hate is without logic and harms only themselves.
Prayer: Lord, things are about to go down in "Persia" again. I once said there were "no innocents" in Iran, but I was mistaken. I was young, foolish, uninformed, and unloving. Please forgive me. I ask you to be with the innocent people in Iran, and especially be with the Christians who believe at the risk of their very lives. I know all that happens there is evidence of your movement here on earth, and of the spiritual war satan fights to try to hurt you by harming your beloved people. May thy will be done in this conflict, as it has been done since the very beginning of attacks against your people thousands of years ago. Amen.
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