I’m going to use some of these in the Sunday School class I teach. But then, I reflected on what Jacob did to Esau. I am shocked that he didn’t just walk away. He made Esau sell his birthright to him and through a cunning acquisition, he also got Esau’s blessings. Basically, Esau was stripped of everything that was important to him. That’s the plain truth: we will become future spiritual beings who will be part of the family of God. He immediately falls in love with Rachel which cements his connection to Laban. It would serve us all well. As we can see, Jacob does not let Laban’s removal of the unusually colored sheep and goats (30:29–36) keep him down. I tried to picture myself in that time as each one of the characters. Laban thought he would reap a great profit by receiving from Jacob the great majority of the flock. In addition to this, Jacob was also deceived by his own children when they faked the death of their brother, Joseph. Jacob had served Laban 14 years. Instead of Rachel, whom he loved, Laban gave him his older daughter, Leah, to Jacob. “Jacob and Laban” Genesis 29-31 We are going to cover the next three chapters of Genesis (29-31) together for they are the record of Jacob’s twenty long years that he spent away from the land of Canaan. You are not an accident. Well, so did Jacob. He is mentioned in Hebrews 11 for his strong and unshakeable faith to God. This was a young man who could have gone anywhere and done anything. So, he commits another seven years of work for Laban in order to marry Rachel, as well. His “name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel”. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Of all the lessons we learn from Jacob’s life, this last one is the greatest. Crime doesn’t pay, folks. ( Log Out /  Uncle Laban could not stand it when Jacob increased. For this reason, Rebekah and Jacob were able to steal Esau’s blessing. Laban thought he would reap a great profit by receiving from Jacob the great majority of the flock. One of the most compelling aspects of the Bible is how God is constantly working through imperfect people to do unbelievable things. These are some of the lessons we can derive from the life of Jacob. Has no sons when Jacob arrives. Nor have entered into the heart of man It is true that following God and keeping His commandments are never easy. Laban recognizes that all that he has is due to Jacob’s work, so he asks Jacob to stay. Untrustworthy and deceptive (seen throughout the story). So keep going. We could see that Jacob later repented and had a converted heart. But we can be assured that it will be all worth it when we have already finished our Christian race. Sometimes that means physical protection from harm (like Jacob and Laban) and sometimes it’s spiritual protection from Satan. When Esau found out, he was very angry and he planned to kill his twin brother. To become a good example, parents must first develop their own character. Learn about this topic in these articles: association with Jacob. Rather, our unique qualities and abilities can become sacred when they are rooted in something greater than the individual. 3 Whenever all the flocks came together there, the shepherds would roll the stone back and water them. Jacob had a hard life—twenty years serving Laban. As payment, he will take only the spotted, speckled and striped livestock. We have seen in the life of Jacob how this law of operates. And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? God needs to humble you before He can use you. (Genesis 29:23-27). He was also a schemer, one who happily toyed with the … However, Laban does not want him to go because Jacob has made him very prosperous. 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