Jacob and Laban Genesis 30:25-43 Genesis 31:1-10

Finally the time came when Jacob wanted to leave Laban and go back home. Jacob told his uncle that he was ready to go, but Laban didn’t like this idea.

“Please don’t go yet,” Laban said. “God has blessed me because of you.”

But Jacob told Laban he wanted to provide for his own family, so they had made a plan. Laban would not have to give Jacob money to pay for his help, but he would let him have certain animals. Laban had many sheep, goats, and cows, so he agreed to let Jacob have the animals of certain colors, and also their babies that would be born.

Animals have babies that are all different colors, don’t they? Some babies are white, some are brown, some are spotted, some are speckled, and so on. Well, Jacob and Laban decided that all the speckled and spotted ones would be Jacob’s. All the rest would be Laban’s.

That sounded like a fair idea, but ... what happened? When the baby lambs, goats, and calves were born, they were all spotted and speckled! All of them became Jacob’s!

Laban wasn’t very happy about this, so he decided to change things.

“I have a better idea,” he told Jacob. “This time when the young are born, you can have all the brown and white animals and I will take all the spotted and speckled.”

That was fine with Jacob. Before long more calves, lambs, and kids were born — but look! This time they were all brown or white! So again Jacob was given them all!

Again Laban became angry. Again he switched the plans. But — each time the animals born were Jacob’s! Ten times this happened!

Why was this? Do you know who was doing this?

Yes, you’re right. It was God. God was blessing Jacob and punishing Laban.

Laban was not so nice to Jacob anymore. He didn’t like him because he was growing so rich. He became unfriendly to Jacob and said unkind things. And Jacob knew it was time to leave.

But first —what did Jacob do? He prayed. He asked God if it was the right time to leave. And God answered, “Go back home to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with thee.”

So Jacob got ready to go.

Do we ask God what is the right thing to do when we make plans? We need to. If we do, He is willing to help us; but if we don’t, we cannot expect His blessing.

— SW

Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak

Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
The hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the Rock and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where;
Until Thy blessed face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.

— F.R. Havergal

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