Week 4: Session 2 Read Genesis 30:25-31:55 Rachel births a son and something is spurred within Jacob— it’s time to go home; so he approaches Laban with a request to leave with his wives and children. Still not treating Jacob as family, Laban stealthily reduces Jacob’s status to hired laborer with the offer to pay for his work. Laban admits his wealth has indeed increased while Jacob has been in charge of the herd, and eventually declares that Jacob will claim all speckled and spotted goats and lambs. But Laban gets to the herd first and removes those very speckled and spotted goats and black lambs before Jacob can claim them. Not to be outdone, Jacob begins working the flock and essentially breeds multi-colored sheep and goats from monochromatic stock. And not only that, but he purposely bred the stronger animals and kept them for himself while leaving the weaker for Laban. Jacob is now described as a wealthy man. He’s become rich in exile just like his Grandfather Abraham did in Egypt. (Genesis 12:16) Why do you think, Jacob didn’t leave, but instead negotiated for livestock with his father-in-law? Jacob finally has the status and means to leave, but there is trouble brewing in the family and he needs the support of Leah and Rachel. I have to chuckle, this is one of the most carefully-worded conversations recorded in the Bible. Jacob has to gain their support and avoid triggering any family jealousies. It surely occurred to him that one or both might actually prefer to stay behind with her father. So he carefully avoids mentioning among Laban’s transgressions the fact that he subbed Leah for Rachel. And he also doesn’t mention that Jacob turned up here because his own brother hated him and was out to kill him. One of the arguments that Jacob addresses is that Laban has tried to cheat him with the livestock and God has thwarted that plan time and again. While chapter 30 gave much credit to Jacob’s genetic selection and breeding techniques, it’s notable that Jacob gave full credit to God in 31:9. Jacob ends his appeal with a story of the Lord appearing to him in a dream, commanding him to return home. Jacob’s tone with his wives is also commendable at this point. He addresses them as co-laborers, not as slaves. They have opinions and are important to the family. In the end, Leah and Rachel make decisions to leave with their husband. Let's glance back at Jacob’s dream and promises he received from God at Bethel when he was beginning his journey to Paddan-aram (Genesis 28). Jacob was promised land, offspring, protection and the Presence of God. What has he received and what is still not fulfilled? And lest we think that Jacob has been finally changed after all the times he has been deceived and cheated, vs 20 reminds us that he has yet one more trick up his own sleeve. He didn’t tell Laban that he intended to go. A sin of omission. He intended to take his household and leave without closure for any of them. I’ll just point out here that the sheep-sheering season was the busiest time in a herdsman’s calendar and all of Laban’s men were working dusk to dawn. Do you think that factors in to Jacob’s timing? Jacob leaves, Laban belatedly follows and eventually catches the party. What follows is a final negotiation between Jacob and Laban. Read Gen 31:22-55. Name all the places you see God’s special protection over Jacob. What are Laban’s grievances? What finally causes Jacob to stand up to Laban in vs.36? An uneasy peace is negotiated between the two men. What is the agreement? Verse 55 is the last time we’ll see Laban in this story. He ends by kissing and blessing his grandchildren and his daughters and returning home. Much history and many words have passed between these two men. The chapter closes a season of frustration and disappointment rather than the joy that might have been. In the end, Jacob has gained a household, Laban returns to an empty one. Journaling prompt: How has Jacob’s relationship with God changed between the time he arrived in Laban’s household and the time he left? Jacob could have become bitter or cynical as a result of Laban’s deceits. What do you think kept him from an outcome like that? What have you learned about God in this story of two deceivers?
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