Daily Devotions
Genesis
"But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children." Psalm 103:17
Text: Genesis 30:1-43
AFTER FOURTEEN LONG YEARS OF SERVICE
It is never easy to work out the details when it comes to family business. Jacob knew that only too well. He served his father-in-law for fourteen years, out of sheer love for Rachel. At the end of those years, he had hardly anything to show for all his energy and effort. He had fulfilled his part. It was obviously time to move on, if he was to provide for his growing family. Jacob pleaded with his father-in-law to be allowed to return home to Canaan. He must have felt that he would fare better in his own country.
RECOGNISING GOD’S HAND OF BLESSING ON JACOB
Laban certainly did not want to lose Jacob. He might miss seeing his daughters and his grandchildren, but what was foremost in his mind was the fear that if he were to lose Jacob, he would also lose the source of great blessings.
“And Laban said to him, ‘Please stay, if I have found favour
in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the Lord
has blessed me for your sake.’ Then he said, ‘Name me
your wages, and I will give it.'”
GENESIS 30:27-28
It was unusual for a father-in-law to speak to his son-in-law in this way. Laban however adopted a humble approach, because he wanted, above everything, to retain the services of Jacob. There was no mistaking the fact that God had blessed him. His reasoning went further. He knew that it was because of Jacob that the blessings had come.
We can understand this statement in a couple of ways. Firstly, it is an acknowledgment, that Jacob had done an excellent job in tending to the flock. Perhaps he had been really hard-working and had paid careful attention to the needs of the flock. Thus the flocks had thrived! Secondly, there was recognition that special grace and favour had been poured out on all the efforts that Jacob had put in. As a result, the rewards exceeded their expectations. Laban would have been a fool if he had not tried his best to retain such a worker as Jacob! Laban asked Jacob to name his price. Whatever wage that Jacob would name would be paid!
SHREWDNESS GAINED FROM HARD EXPERIENCE
Jacob had learned much about Laban, for he had worked for his father-in-law for all these years. He knew that his father-in-law’s words were not to be fully trusted, no matter how nicely they were put across. He had been fooled before. He was not going to be fooled again. But how would he be able to say “No” to his father-in-law in polite language? He knew that when his father-in-law spoke as he did, the negotiations had begun. The key word was “wages”. He knew that Laban would try to take advantage of any and every situation that arose. For a full fourteen years, he had worked from morn till night, looking after the flocks of Laban. He had become a skilled shepherd over the years. He must play his hand very carefully, or he would end up losing to Laban again!