25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. 27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. 28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it. 29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me. 30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also? 31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock. 32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. 33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. 34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word (Genesis 30:25-34).
Jacob was ready to get away from Laban. But Laban had grown to rely on Jacob and his work. Really it was about money. Laban feared that Jacob would take his property or demand some payment and Jacob was tired of working for Laban. Laban also knew that he had been blessed by Jacob’s presence. Now it may appear here that Jacob is being generous by taking the spotted animals (they were seen as inferior) but we will quickly find out that this was not so. Both men were being less than honest with each other, they were family but nether really trusted the other and to some extent for good reason. The lesson here is whenever there are self-interests involved somehow someone is going to lose.
Jacob was ready to get away from Laban. But Laban had grown to rely on Jacob and his work. Really it was about money. Laban feared that Jacob would take his property or demand some payment and Jacob was tired of working for Laban. Laban also knew that he had been blessed by Jacob’s presence. Now it may appear here that Jacob is being generous by taking the spotted animals (they were seen as inferior) but we will quickly find out that this was not so. Both men were being less than honest with each other, they were family but nether really trusted the other and to some extent for good reason. The lesson here is whenever there are self-interests involved somehow someone is going to lose.
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