Laban’s Greed
Genesis 30: 31 So he said, “What
shall I give you?”
And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will
do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks: 32 Let
me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and
spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and
speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. 33 So
my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of
my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and
spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen,
if it is with me.”
34 And Laban said, “Oh, that it were
according to your word!” 35 So he removed that day
the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that
were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in
it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into
the hand of his sons. 36 Then he put three days’
journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
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When Abraham’s servant came to the place where Abraham grew
up, he prayed for a wife for Isaac and Rebekah showed up. Bethuel was her
father, but she ran and told her mother and Laban. Years later, Jacob shows up.
Laban, Jacob’s uncle, is in control of a vast estate of lambs, cattle, goats,
camels and many other animals. When Jacob asked to leave, Laban asked about the
parting wages.
My Observations:
- Laban
was a deceiver who may have followed the ways of those who worshipped
idols.
- Terah
was Abraham’s father who also had Haran and named the city after him when
he died.
- Laban
lived in Haran and may have picked up values that included greed and human
possession.
Being wealthy and greedy, Laban saw an opportunity to get
over on Jacob again. When Jacob gave the parameters of the parting wages, Laban
went through the flocks and herds and chose the best animals for himself. He
separated the animals with three days’ journey between him and Jacob.
Little did Laban know, that GOD was in control of the
situation. It’s hard to see how GOD would use a deceiver like Jacob, but HE had
a larger plan. Possibly there was no one who would even mention GOD, living at
that time. Maybe it was similar to the time of Noah, where he was the only
believer on earth. Regardless, GOD showed grace to Jacob.
Challenge
- Why
do you think GOD told Moses about the conversation between Laban and
Jacob?
- Have
you ever done something wrong and wondered if GOD would leave you?
- Can
you make a decision today to stand firm with the LORD despite any sin you
did in the past?
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