Bible Summary:
Jacob realizes Uncle Laban and his sons do not like him for taking their wealth. God tells him to return to Canaan, so Jacob complains to Rachel and Leah about their father’s attempts to cheat him out of his wages. Jacob’s wives agree to leave since nothing is left to inherit and their father treats them like foreigners. They leave in a hurry with all their animals and belongings. Unknown to Jacob, Rachel steals Laban’s household gods.
A week later, Laban and his men catch up to Jacob. In a dream on the way, God warns Laban not to threaten Jacob, but he feigns the hurt father who didn’t get to say goodbye and then confronts Jacob about the stolen household gods.
Jacob says he left in a hurry for fear that Laban would take his daughters back and challenges him to search for the household gods. Laban unsuccessfully searches all the tents as Rachel hides the household gods in a camel saddlebag under her.
Jacob rants to Laban about hunting him down for no good reason, about giving him twenty good years of work, fourteen to win his daughters and six for his flocks, about suffering the heat of day, cold of night, and sleeplessness, and about incurring the loss whenever a sheep was killed or disappeared. On top of that, Laban tried to change his wages ten times but was confounded by God each time.
Laban yells back that he owns everything, his daughters, their children, and all the flocks, but then agrees to a truce because there is nothing he can do. Jacob can leave with everything after he agrees not to mistreat Laban’s daughters or marry another. Laban and Jacob promise not to attack each other, then celebrate over a sacrificed animal. The next morning, Laban kisses his family goodbye.
My Thoughts:
Appreciation: It’s easy to get lulled into the repetition of everyday life and forget to acknowledge or appreciate the people around you. Laban learned this the hard way when his daughters and grandchildren suddenly disappeared one day over his son-in-law feeling cheated. Be sure to appreciate those closest to you today!
Family Owned Business: Working with family can be very difficult. The skills that made the business survive and thrive in the beginning, like minimizing expenses, can be a great area of contention when the expense is the other family member’s wage. Many families struggle or even dissolve today over similar issues to this story. And, it sure doesn’t help that Jacob is the son-in-law when there are other sons. You might want to consider talking your kids into a different line of work.