November – 25 – God’s Blessing

Sunday School Lesson

November 25

God’s Blessing

 

Devotional Reading: Psalm 46

Background Scripture: Genesis 30

 

Genesis 30:22–32, 43

22. And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

 

23. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

 

24. And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.

 

25. And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Sendme 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.

 

43. And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

Key Verse

God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

—Genesis 30:22

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Recount the instances of God’s blessing of individuals in today’s text.

 

2. Compare and contrast the deceptive personalities of Laban and Jacob.

 

3. Acknowledge with gratitude one or more blessings from God.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Asher	Ash-er.
Bilhah	Bill-ha.
Gad	Gad (a as in bad).
Haran	Hair-un.
Issachar	Izz-uh-kar.
Laban	Lay-bun.
modus operandi	mow-duhs ah-puh-ran-dee.
Naphtali	Naf-tuh-lye.
Simeon	Sim-ee-un.
Zebulun	Zeb-you-lun.
Zilpah	Zil-pa.

Introduction

1. Asap

In our fast-paced world where everything is required to happen ASAP (as soon as possible), delays can be especially frustrating. At the time this lesson is being written, the road I usually take to our church is under repair. Detour signs let drivers know they have to take an alternate route.

Delays seem to be a common part of God’s modus operandi in Scripture. He appears to prefer operating by another kind of ASAP: as slowly as possible. Consider the patriarchs in the book of Genesis. Abraham entered Canaan at the age of 75 (Genesis 12:4), having received God’s promise that he would be the source of a great nation (12:2). Yet his covenant son, Isaac, was not born until Abraham had reached age 100!

Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah, but their sons Jacob and Esau did not arrive for another 20 years (lesson 10). Jacob had to wait 7 years before he could marry Laban’s daughter Rachel; even then he ended up married to her sister Leah. Laban allowed him to marry Rachel provided that he worked another 7 years.

Rachel also spent time in God’s “waiting room” as she struggled with the disappointment of her inability to conceive (Genesis 29:31). It is hard to imagine the depths of her frustration at seeing the other women in her household bearing children while she remained barren. It is hard at times for us to explain or fully understand why God delays answering certain prayers or fulfilling certain promises. This is where faith provides another outlook (or “uplook”). We trust that God will do what He has said, by accepting another interpretation of ASAP: as sure as promised.

1. Lesson Context

Following Jacob’s dream at Bethel (last week’s study), he traveled on to Haran. There he met Rachel, Laban’s daughter (and Jacob’s cousin) when she came to water her father’s sheep. Rachel ran back home to tell her father about Jacob’s arrival; and Laban hurried to meet Jacob, welcoming him with great excitement. Then followed the series of events that resulted in the master deceiver, Jacob, being deceived in turn by Laban. As a result, Jacob first married Leah, then Rachel (whom he truly loved).

The Bible then records how Jacob began to build a family that would grow to 12 sons and a daughter (Dinah), with the sons becoming the source of the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel. Leah gave birth to Jacob’s sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah (Genesis 29:31–35). Then Rachel, who was barren, determined that she would build a family through her servant Bilhah, who gave birth to Dan and Naphtali (30:4–8). Leah’s servant Zilpah then gave birth to Gad and Asher (30:9–13). Later, Leah gave birth to sons Issachar and Zebulun plus daughter Dinah (30:17–21).

Rachel voiced her anguish to Jacob with great emotion (Genesis 30:1). She must have grown increasingly discouraged as she watched the three other women in her household provide children for Jacob while she remained barren. The sibling rivalry between Rachel and sister Leah (30:7, 8, 14–16) must have reminded Jacob of the friction that had developed between him and Esau back home. But circumstances were about to change.

1. Increase of Family

(Genesis 30:22–24)

1. God’s Sustenance (v. 22)

22a. And God remembered Rachel.

 

When Scripture says God remembered something or someone, that does not imply something that had slipped His mind now pops back to memory. God does not need to have His memory jogged as we do. He needs no reminders. Rather, when the text says that God remembers, the meaning is that He is about to act to fulfill a promise (compare Genesis 8:1; 19:29; Exodus 2:24, 25; etc.).

 

22b. And God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

 

It is interesting to compare this statement with Genesis 25:21. There the text says that God listened to the prayer of husband Isaac on behalf of his barren wife, Rebekah. Here, however, God responds to the barren wife’s own expression of anguish. Perhaps she has been praying about her condition, but the text does not specifically say that.

 

1. Rachel’s Son (vv. 23, 24)
2. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach.

 

Barrenness is a source of reproach in biblical times (compare Isaiah 49:21; 54:1; Galatians 4:27). When Elisabeth is allowed to conceive in her old age, she declares, “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men” (Luke 1:25). With the birth of a son, an especially heavy burden has been lifted from Rachel’s shoulders, and she is grateful.

 

What Do You Think? What are some ways that the church can help alleviate the shame people feel about their circumstances?   Digging Deeper How, if at all, should the church’s approach to the issue depend on whether the shame is due to voluntary or involuntary circumstances?

24. And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.

 

The name Joseph comes from a Hebrew word meaning “to add.” Rachel hopes that her childbearing prowess is not limited to bearing him. Her statement may also be seen as a prayer request, that God will be gracious enough to add yet another son. In either case, Rachel recognizes the Lord as the source of the son she now holds.

 

1. Increase of Flocks

(Genesis 30:25–32, 43)

1. Jacob’s Proposal (vv. 25, 26)
2. 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.

 

Joseph’s birth seems to serve as a signal to Jacob that it is time that he should return to Canaan, his homeland. A woman’s status is very uncertain if she has no children. A barren woman is probably in better surroundings if she remains among family members who will care for her; otherwise she risks being ostracized and possibly mistreated. But now that Rachel has a son of her own, Jacob seems to feel more at ease about making the request we see here.

 

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.

 

Another factor influencing Jacob’s desire to return home at this point is that the 14 years for which he had agreed to work in order to marry both Rachel and Leah have apparently been fulfilled. That work represents what Jacob has “paid” for both Leah and Rachel: 7 years initially for Rachel (only to be given Leah instead) and then 7 additional years for Rachel, though Jacob was allowed to marry Rachel before his second 7-year obligation was carried out (Genesis 29:18, 26–28).

Decision Points

“Having children will bring a couple closer together.” Don’t believe it. It’s a myth! At least that’s what many psychological studies show.

On the other hand, even though research says marital happiness may decline with the birth of the first child, a couple is less likely to divorce at that point. Apparently, when that “little bundle of joy” comes along, the primary focus is no longer on efforts that reinforce the pleasure the couple experiences with each other. Rather, the new dynamic focuses on that innocent stranger that has come to live with them.

Parenting adds a dimension to the relationship that calls for selfless actions such as feeding, bathing, and diapering the baby. The emotional weight of being responsible for a little one can be a decision point in forcing a parent to realize that it’s time to grow up emotionally in accepting responsibility. This is often especially true of fathers.

Jacob already had 10 sons before Joseph‌—‌who would be his favorite son‌—‌was born. However, the birth of this son by the wife he loved seems to have resulted in a decision point: it was time for him to ponder anew his promised role in the nation through which God would bless the world.

An occasion, a precipitating event, may come to each of us that causes us to realize that it’s time to take seriously our roles in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19, 20). But, of course, that time is not now because we have so much else to do. Right?

—C. R. B.

What Do You Think? What questions are helpful to ask ourselves when considering a major transition?   Digging Deeper How might issues of body and issues of spirit affect one another during such a transition?

1. Laban’s Plea (vv. 27, 28)
2. 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.

 

Laban has been as much of a deceiving “heel-grabber” as Jacob. This is seen in Laban’s sister-swap of Leah in place of Rachel (Genesis 29:23). His deception has been rewarded by 14 years of labor from Jacob, and Laban is hesitant to let good help get away.

Laban’s deceiving and manipulative ways cause us to be suspicious about the sincerity of his declaration that he has learned by experience that the Lord has blessed him for Jacob’s sake. Is Laban merely “playing the Lord card” as a further attempt to manipulate Jacob?

The Hebrew word translated experience is an interesting one. Its nine uses in the Old Testament are variously translated “enchantment(s)” (Leviticus 19:26; 2 Kings 17:17; 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6) and divinations (Genesis 44:5, 15). These suggest attempts to discover hidden information by means that are tied to pagan religious practices. This is the first time the term is used in the Bible; the practice will later be clearly spelled out as forbidden in the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:9–14).

We do not know what rituals Laban has engaged in to determine what he says he knows. Even so, it appears that some elements of superstition or pagan religion are practiced in his household. This is seen by the use of mandrake plants to induce pregnancy (Genesis 30:14–18). It is also apparent given the presence of the “images,” or “gods,” that Rachel later takes from Laban and hides (31:19, 30–35).

This provides another example of God’s guiding or superintending human efforts (as misguided as they may be) to accomplish His sovereign will. Just as God can use pagan rulers to further His divine program (as He used Pharaoh during the exodus), so He can use a sinful human practice such as divination (whatever it may have involved) to accomplish His ultimate plan. That plan is to return Jacob to his homeland as God promised He would (Genesis 28:15).

Of course, the real reason for Laban’s being blessed has nothing to do with divination. The blessing that Isaac had given to Jacob (under the assumption he was Esau) included these words: “Blessed be he that blesseth thee” (Genesis 27:29). Ultimately that promise is rooted in the Lord’s covenant with Abraham (12:3).

 

28. And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

Jacob’s presence has been very profitable for Laban; he is reluctant to lose that expertise. So he uses the promise of a blank check in an attempt to persuade Jacob to stay. The offer we see in the verse before us is the same as the one Laban made after Jacob had been in Laban’s household a month (Genesis 29:14, 15). The offer that had worked before may work again, or so Laban seems to hope.

 

1. Laban’s Prosperity (vv. 29, 30)

29, 30. And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me. 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?

 

Once again Jacob mentions the service he has already rendered Laban. Jacob repeats Laban’s observation regarding credit to be given to the Lord for the blessing that has resulted. Laban has indeed prospered well because of the Lord’s blessing after Jacob’s arrival. But Jacob adds that he needs to think about his family and what is best for them.

 

What Do You Think? How do you know when you’ve met your responsibility to assist others given your responsibility to meet the needs of your own family?   Digging Deeper What are some ways to determine if your motives are selfish?

1. Jacob’s Pay (vv. 31, 32, 43)
2. 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.

 

Laban again offers Jacob a blank check, giving the appearance of being more than fair. Jacob responds with a proposal that will allow Laban to keep Jacob in his service for an unspecified amount of time.

This immediately makes us wonder why Jacob yields to Laban’s desire after Jacob has voiced his desire to return to his homeland. Does the “heel-grabber” see at this point an opportunity to enhance his own wealth by means of the plan (scheme?) he is about to propose? Is Jacob already thinking ahead to what he will do to outsmart Laban at his own game? It is tempting, with someone like Jacob or Laban, to try to discern some ulterior motive for his actions. Perhaps Jacob simply has had a change of heart.

 

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.

 

Sheep (and lambs) are usually all white, while goats are all black. Speckled or spotted animals (and brown sheep) are far fewer in number. Essentially, Jacob is proposing to keep for himself the least numerous animals among the livestock for his hire, or pay; Laban is to retain all the rest.

In the verses that immediately follow those in our lesson text, Jacob further proposes that any unspeckled or unspotted livestock found among Jacob’s flocks will be assumed to be stolen. Laban immediately (and understandably!) agrees to Jacob’s suggestion (Genesis 30:33, 34).

 

43. And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

 

The ultimate result—when Jacob uses a combination of selective breeding and superstitious beliefs (Genesis 30:37–42)—is that Laban is outsmarted, and Jacob increases his holdings greatly at Laban’s expense. Laban’s desire to retain Jacob’s expertise proves the validity of the old warning, “Be careful what you ask for because you may just get it!”

The man (Jacob) later acknowledges to Rachel and Leah that God has been the source of the blessings and the abundance he has received (Genesis 31:9–12). It appears that the tree branches Jacob uses in 30:37–42 have an impact similar to mandrakes on the ability of females to become pregnant (30:14–16, 22). However such things work (or people believe they work), God is, in truth, the source of the desired fertility. Both Rachel and Jacob attest to this fact (30:23, 30).

The results God desires are obtained, above and beyond what Rachel and Jacob do or desire. Throughout all of this, God has been keeping the promise He made to Jacob in his dream (Genesis 28:14, 15). That increase will also apply to Jacob’s descendants, the children of Israel, while in Egypt (47:27).

 

What Do You Think? How can we can determine if God is pleased with our plans and decisions?   Digging Deeper Consider 2 Corinthians 6:4–10 and the characters of Hebrews 11 in your conclusion.

Genesis 31 records how Laban’s sons begin to complain about all that Jacob has obtained at the expense of their father. The relationship between Laban and Jacob becomes much more strained. Genesis 31:3 includes a detail that is missing from Jacob’s earlier plan to return home: the Lord’s personal command for him to do so. Included with the command is repetition of the promise given to Jacob during his dream of last week’s lesson: “I am with thee” (28:15). Much still lies ahead for Jacob. He has a vow to keep (28:20–22) and a brother to encounter.

 

Human Schemes or God’s Help?

Jacob’s bargain with Laban shows us that animal husbandry folklore was part of ancient culture. But the custom has continued for centuries since. For example, changing the name of an animal will cause it to die, according to an old Pennsylvania belief. On the other hand, an Illinois proverb held that if you get a horse on trade, you must change its name to have good luck with it.

A North Carolina belief promised that nailing a horseshoe over the stable door will prevent witches from stealing your horses. Are you a chicken farmer? A Maryland proverb assured that eggs set in the morning will result in male chicks. But in Alabama, eggs needed to be set in the afternoon to get the same result. In Kentucky, your chickens would be protected from hawks if you put a round rock in a fire—‌causing the hawk’s claws to draw up in that shape so it couldn’t grab your chickens.

Animal husbandry folklore may have been in play as Laban and Jacob connived to outsmart each other when determining Jacob’s wages. But we know from prior readings in Genesis that God planned to bless Jacob and his descendants. So it’s far more likely that the real reason for Jacob’s success in breeding his flocks was that God had His hand in the process.

The principle is still valid: Our blessings are due more to God’s actions than to our own plans (however noble) or schemes (however devious).

—C. R. B.

What Do You Think? What guardrails can we put in place to keep our motives above reproach?   Digging Deeper Distinguish between guardrails that all Christians should adopt vs. guardrails that are specific to your own past and personality.

Conclusion

1. Facing Labans

We’ve all heard the quip “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” That lighthearted advice offers perspective in surviving difficult circumstances that are not of our own making. The idea is to try to make the best of a bad situation.

What do we do when life gives us “Labans”? We have seen Jacob’s “heel-grabbing” ability on display in the previous lessons of this unit, but Laban was just as crafty as Jacob. Each man learned to live by his wits, to “do unto others before they can do unto you.” Having two “heel-grabbers” in such proximity to one another was bound to create a constant atmosphere of tension. Even Laban’s own daughters, Leah and Rachel, admitted that he had not treated them fairly in denying them what they were entitled to receive as an inheritance. They felt more like “strangers” than daughters in the household (Genesis 31:14, 15).

We may come across people who remind us of Laban. We may meet them in the workplace, at school, or perhaps (sadly) even in the church. They are always looking to gain an advantage over others. They may even use the Lord’s name as Laban did with Jacob. We want to think the best of people, but the track record of some may cause us to be cautious.

When life gives us Labans, what do we do? Our main desire should be to maintain a God-honoring attitude and conduct. We do so as we are “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Spiritual maturity and tact are important in knowing when and how to confront a Laban in a way that does not make matters worse.

It is easy to allow life’s Labans to sour our relationship with God and with other people. We may think that we have to become Labans in order to survive. We end up leaning on our own understanding rather than trusting in the Lord, contrary to Proverbs 3:5. True, life’s Labans are not easy to face or easy to love. Perhaps a long, hard look in the mirror will remind us that at times we are not all that easy to love or deal with either. We all need God’s grace on a daily basis—grace to avoid being like Laban and grace to love the Labans who cross our paths.

 

1. Being Jacob

Jacob would not seem to be someone to emulate as we face life’s Labans. But we should not allow Jacob’s massive flaws to cause us to miss what was right about him: his awareness that God was watching over him to fulfill His promises. The same is true for us.

 

1. Prayer

Father, the manipulative people in our broken world discourage us! Keep us from becoming one of them. Let people see Christ in us. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

1. Thought to Remember

Count your blessings and thank the blesser.

 

 

Kid’s Corner

The LORD Keeps All His Promises!

November 25, 2018

Genesis 30:22-32, 43

 

Genesis 30:22-32, 43

(Genesis 30:22) Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb.

Sarah, Abraham’s wife, Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, and Rachel, Jacob’s wife, all needed the LORD’s intervention to conceive children. The LORD alone decided who would be in the ancestral line of Jesus Christ. Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his oldest daughter, Leah, and Jacob could only love the one wife he bargained to marry, Rachel. When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He gave her many children; including Judah, who became an ancestor of King David and Jesus the Messiah. When Rachel became jealous of Leah she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” and Jacob replied, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” (Genesis 30:2). The LORD gave Rachel her children through Jacob.

(Genesis 30:23) So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”

Following a custom of that day, just as Sarah gave her handmaid Hagar to Abraham as a wife so she could adopt Hagar’s son Ishmael; likewise, Rachel gave her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob as a wife so she could adopt Bilhah’s sons Dan and Naphtali. Finally, the LORD made it possible for Rachel to become pregnant through Jacob and bear her own firstborn son, Joseph. Rachel acknowledged the fact that indeed God was the one who had enabled her to have a son.

(Genesis 30:24) She named him Joseph, saying, “May the LORD give me another son.”

After naming her firstborn son, Joseph, Rachel prayed to the LORD for a second son. She died while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. Because Joseph was born to Jacob in his old age, he loved him more than his brothers, who became jealous. After the family returned to the land the LORD had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his brothers sold Joseph into slavery; which led eventually to their descendants, the Hebrews, becoming slaves in Egypt.

(Genesis 30:25) Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country.

Because Laban was the head of his household, he could determine the futures of his sisters, Leah and Rachel. Because Laban deceived Jacob, Jacob worked seven years for Laban to pay for the wife he did not want, Leah, and another seven years to pay for the wife he bargained for, Rachel. Thus, Laban’s deception brought discord into Jacob’s family, even as Jacob’s deception brought discord between Esau and himself. After completing fourteen years of servitude, Jacob told Laban he wanted to return to his homeland in the Negev. At this time, Jacob and his family were living in virtual poverty, depending on the handouts a master would normally give his servants, for all his wages had gone to Laban to pay for his two wives. Except for Leah and Rachel, Jacob had no possessions.

(Genesis 30:26) “Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you.”

Even though Jacob had nothing except his wives Leah, Rachel, and their handmaids, Bilhah and Zilpah (now his wives), along with his children, he told Laban that he was now ready to take them back to his homeland. He reminded Laban that he had worked hard for him. As he looked forward to going home after so many years, little did he know that Esau still hated him and still wanted to kill him and would come to meet him with four hundred men upon learning of his return (see Genesis 32:6). Esau was determined that none of his birthright inheritance, that Jacob had stolen from him by deception, would be given to him. By the grace of God, Jacob would not need his birthright inheritance, God’s blessing was sufficient for him.

(Genesis 30:27) But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account.”

Laban did not need divination to know that because of Jacob’s labors he had become a wealthy man. He did not want to lose such a valued servant, and presumably the labors of Jacob’s wives and children as they helped Jacob watch over Laban’s increasing number of sheep and goats. Though Laban probably did not know that Jacob had received Isaac’s blessing, the LORD had honored what Isaac had said in his blessing of Jacob. In addition, by staying close to home with Isaac and Rebekah in the Negev, Jacob had learned the best ways to carry on a family-owned agricultural business and care for flocks of animals. Laban had benefitted greatly from Jacob’s knowledge and the LORD’s presence with him, and later so would Jacob.

(Genesis 30:28) He continued, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.”

Now that Jacob had “worked off” his indebtedness to Laban for Leah and Rachel, Laban was ready to pay Jacob wages. He said he would pay Jacob whatever he asked, probably thinking he could trick Jacob no matter what wages Jacob wanted. Furthermore, Laban knew that it would take many years for a shepherd to earn and save enough money to return home with such a large family. Laban was shrewd and deceptive enough to know it was to his benefit to pay wages to Jacob no matter what wages Jacob wanted.

(Genesis 30:29) But he said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared with me.

In negotiating with Laban, Jacob reminded him that he had prospered under his care, and if he hired him on his terms, Laban would continue to prosper. He also knew that Laban desperately wanted to hire him, since he was willing to pay whatever he asked. Jacob was negotiating for the best terms possible, the terms he wanted that were more than just “wages.” Jacob knew he was worth a great deal to Laban, and whatever he asked would be worth the expense of Laban and his sons.

(Genesis 30:30) “For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?”

Jacob reminded Laban that his family was poor before he came, and how they were now wealthy by comparison. Jacob also gave the LORD the credit for all that he had accomplished for Laban. If Jacob stayed on and worked for Laban, Jacob wanted Laban to know that the LORD would be with him blessing all his labors, implying that Laban would continue to benefit from Jacob’s labors and presence. In some sense, Laban would be hiring both Jacob and the LORD which would enable him to increase his wealth even more. Jacob also reminded Laban that after fourteen years of service, it was now time for him to do something for his own family. Jacob was continuing to build his case for the terms that he wanted if he was to continue working for Laban. Laban assumed that by hiring Jacob he would become even more wealthy.

(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 one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock:

Fully convinced that he wanted Jacob to keep working for him, Laban asked him to name his terms of employment. And Jacob probably caught him off guard by saying, “Don’t give me anything.” Laban must have been overjoyed to learn that he could keep Jacob in his service and he would have no “out of pocket” expenses, no “wages” to pay. He would not need to use the money he had saved and would not need to use the money he earned in the future from his family business to pay Jacob anything. To a deceptive Laban, proud of his ability to cheat and trick people, this offer from Jacob probably sounded too good to be true.

(Genesis 30:32) let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages.

Read the rest of this chapter to learn more about how Jacob built up a flock of sheep and goats for his family. Briefly, Laban’s sons became the shepherds of their father’s speckled, spotted, and dark colored lambs and goats, either in behalf of Jacob or stolen from Jacob, and they took them far away from Laban’s flock. Jacob became the shepherd of Laban’s white lambs and goats, so it would have been very rare for white lambs and goats to produce lambs and goats that were speckled, spotted, and dark colored. Using unusual breeding techniques, Jacob continued tending and watching over Laban’s flock of white sheep and goats and they began to produce many strong and healthy speckled, spotted, and dark colored animals for Jacob’s flock. Thus, Jacob’s flock eventually increased and Laban’s decreased.

(Genesis 30:43) So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys.

Jacob was so successful with his selective breeding techniques that by separating the speckled, spotted, and dark colored lambs and goats from Laban’s white flock that he cared for, he was able to create an exceedingly large flock of sheep and goats for his family, thereby becoming exceedingly rich. He became as rich or richer than his father Isaac, who also had servants, camels, and donkeys, which were considered signs of wealth at that time. Jacob became so rich that he could give a great deal of his wealth to Esau when he met him coming toward him with 400 men, and thus reconcile with Esau by not asking Esau for the birthright inheritance that he had stolen from Esau. The LORD helped Jacob do the right thing, and by Jacob doing what was right, the LORD brought peace into Isaac’s family.

 

The LORD Keeps All His Promises!

November 25, 2018

Genesis 30:22-32, 43

“The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?” (Genesis 30:30).

When the LORD met Jacob at “Jacob’s Ladder,” He told Jacob, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15). When Jacob reached Haran, he bargained with Laban to marry Rachel by paying Laban seven years of labor as a shepherd, but Laban deceived Jacob and forced him to marry Leah, Rachel’s sister, for seven more years of labor. At the end of fourteen years, Jacob possessed only his wives and children, for all his wages went to Laban. But the LORD was with Jacob, and when Jacob told Laban he wanted to return home, Laban bargained again to keep Jacob working for wages. Laban knew that the LORD was with Jacob and that was why his possessions had increased greatly. Knowing how Laban could cheat him, Jacob declined wages; instead, he bargained with Laban to work for all the striped, speckled, and spotted sheep and goats. As Jacob shepherded Laban’s white flock, miraculously they produced a striped, speckled, and spotted flock for Jacob. As He promised, the LORD was with Jacob, and when Jacob finally left for home he was “exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys” (Genesis 30:43). Jacob had enough possessions that when he returned home, he did not need the birthright he had stolen; instead, by giving rich gifts to Esau, he made peace with his brother.

Thinking Further

The LORD Keeps All His Promises!

November 25, 2018

Genesis 30:22-32, 43

Name ____________________________

1. What are one or more experiences that Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel had in common?

 

2. When Jacob talked to Laban, what did Jacob want to return home with?

 

3. What did Laban tell Jacob about the LORD?

 

4. What were some of the qualifications for a job with Laban that Jacob gave Laban?

 

5. What did Jacob want Laban to give him if he went back to work for him? What were the results?

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

1. What are one or more experiences that Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel had in common? They all needed the LORD’s help to conceive a child. Sarah went through Haran on the way to the land the LORD promised Abraham and Rebekah and Rachel were from Haran. They were all reckoned to be beautiful.
2. When Jacob talked to Laban, what did Jacob want to return home with? His wives and children, which probably included their handmaids, Bilhah and Zilpah.
3. What did Laban tell Jacob about the LORD? He said that by divination he had learned that the LORD had blessed him because of Jacob.
4. What were some of the qualifications for a job with Laban that Jacob gave Laban? He had done much work for him — he was dependable and experienced with a proven record of success. Laban knew how well his livestock had been taken care of by Jacob. Laban had little before Jacob came to work for him, and during the past 14 years that Jacob had worked for Laban, what Laban had possessed had greatly increased. The LORD had blessed Laban wherever he went.
5. What did Jacob want Laban to give him if he went back to work for him? What were the results? Jacob said that he did not want Laban to give him any wages except the sheep and goats that were speckled, spotted, and dark colored. Jacob grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys

 

Word Search

The LORD Keeps All His Promises!

November 25, 2018

Genesis 30:22-32, 43

Name ____________________________

 

I A H S D F K Q V L A U L U X

G J F U Q R E N E O W J D C T

Y O G O A K O H E Q D I G A P

I S M R G J C L S R S Z W Q I

S E W E Q A E T X G D X O S J

P P I P R Y O S R L H L D N A

O H V S D E M A U G U O I T M

T A E O B W C T E S W M J H I

T U S R M E L K W A G E S M C

E Q D P D I V I N A T I O N J

D T B J M W H O M E L A N D K

B L C F L I V E S T O C K A S

J S P E C K L E D W B X M N B

V C Y U K C O T S E V I L E J

B G D Q D R L A B A N A W F Q

 

Rachel

Disgrace

Joseph

LORD

Laban

Homeland

Wives

Children

Divination

Livestock

Wages

Livestock

Speckled

Spotted

Prosperous

 

True and False Test

The LORD Keeps All His Promises!

November 25, 2018

Genesis 30:22-32, 43

Name ____________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. The LORD enabled Rachel to have a son, and she named him Joseph. True or False

 

2. After Joseph was born, Jacob told Laban that he wanted to return to his homeland. True or False

 

3. Laban learned by divination that Jacob would become prosperous if he kept working for him. True or False

 

4. Laban told Jacob that he would pay him the waged he named. True or False

 

5. Jacob told Laban that he would not work for wages. True or False

 

6. Jacob said he would work for Laban’s speckled and spotted lambs and goats. True or False

 

7. Laban told Jacob that he was afraid that Jacob would cheat him if he did what Jacob wanted. True or False

 

8. Jacob told Laban that he had never cheated anyone and he certainly would not cheat his beloved father-in-law. True or False

 

9. After Jacob worked for Laban, Laban became the most wealthy man in Haran, with more white sheep and goats than anyone else. True or False
10. When Jacob left with his family to return home, he was very prosperous. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

Genesis 30:22-32, 43

 

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. True
7. False
8. False
9. False

10.True