BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 29

Jacob Makes Good

Genesis 30:25 – 31:21

Me-

One of the shocks that come to most of us is that we wake up one day and realize we are adults.  This is a scary proposition. With that new awareness I very quickly learned of the responsibility and accountability that goes along with it.  For many of us even when we first get married we may still be living in a dream world.  Our first job becomes a reality check especially when we see all that comes out of our pay and how little we have to keep for ourselves.  Our visions of grandeur of what we are going to do with all that money now becomes how can I make this stretch out until the next payday.

With the coming of children I had to adjust and become more serious about life.  I became aware very quickly that my wife and I were now responsible for a new life and the kind of person each of them would become.  A college education became of greater importance if I was to provide for them. 

Sadly, there are those who never want to grow up and mature as adults.  These folks are said to have a Peter Pan personality.  They want a life full of fun with no responsibility. Some never grow up.  There is a saying that may have held true in a time that was less demanding.  It says, “Do not judge a man until he is forty.”  In our fast pace society, however, by the time a man is forty, if he does not understand his role in life, the world  will pass him by.

It took a long time for Jacob to get it.  Although as recorded in the narrative, by the time he began to build his own business he was well into his eighties. By the way I am still learning these lessons as well.

We-

It is so easy for churches to get sidetracked and not be what God has called them to be. We can do all kinds of things and make all kinds of decisions, some good and some bad and still never mature as a people. God calls us to do certain things based on faith.  The primary one is to live out our lives in such a way that others hear and see the good news through a daily focus on focusing our attention on the Father and His Son.  These can only be done when we understand what God’s word has to say to us.  The only way that will happen is digging into His instruction book.  We need to be careful that we do not waste the hours and days going in the wrong direction because we have excluded God from even the life of the Church.

Genesis 30:25-26

Jacob had spent fourteen years serving Laban for two wives and had eleven children to show for his efforts.  After faithfully fulfilling his obligations it was now time for him to provide for his own future and that of his family.  He came to the conclusion that the only way to do that was to return home.  Waiting for him would be the flocks and herds that he would acquire because of the birthright and blessing he had stolen and been given.  He approached Laban with the request to go back into Canaan.

1. What does it show about Jacob that he approached Laban after serving him for fourteen years?
2. What kind of future could he expect if he stayed in Padan-Aram?
3. What was his main concern at that point in his life?
4. Why did he desire to return to Cannan?

Genesis 30:27-28

Laban used the argument that Jacob did not have to go back to Canaan to provide for the future of his family.  He could stay right there and continue to serve Laban.  Jacob would even be able to name his own wages.  Of course this would be more beneficial for Laban than Jacob because he knew that he would not take advantage of the situation.  His father had recognized two things.  Jacob was a good manager and business man and he had also been blessed because God was with Jacob, just as He had promised.

1. What do you think of Laban’s reasoning with Jacob?
2. Why did Laban want for Jacob to hang around longer?
3. Would you have been persuaded by such statements as made by Laban? Why or why not?
4. Why was Laban willing to allow Jacob to name his own wages?
5. Who was to really gain if Laban got his way?
6. How do we know that?

Genesis 30:29-30

Jacob made it very clear as he negotiated that Laban had little, one small flock of sheep, goats  and a few cattle, when he arrived on the scene. It is possible that he probably would still have had nothing if Jacob had not been there. That fact Laban could not deny.  Because of Jacob and God’s hand upon him the wealth of Laban had grown.  If he was to maintain what he had he had no choice but to acknowledge the importance of what Jacob had done.  Everything that been said by both men came down to Jacob being able to providing for his family.  That was the bottom line for Jacob.

1. What had Jacob done for Laban?
2. To whom do both of the men give credit for the increase in the wealth of Laban?
3. What credit does Jacob take?
4. In what kind of position did Jacob’s words put Laban?
5. What was the bottom line for Jacob?

Genesis 30:31-36

Laban wanted to know what Jacob expected to be given.  Jacob on his part probably surprised his father-in-law by telling him that he did not want to be given anything. The wages that Jacob asked would seemingly put him at a disadvantage.  He asked for the goats that were speckled and spotted and black sheep. In order for the deal to be completely open Jacob separated all of the livestock that were speckled, spotted and black and gave them to Laban.  Laban then separated those animals about a three day’s journey from the rest of the flocks and put them in the care of his sons.  The only sheep left were white and goats of a solid color.  Those animals would now be tended by Jacob.  His wages would then be any spotted, striped and black sheep that would be born from that time.  He even went so far as to say that any animal that was either or white or solid in his flock would be considered stolen.

There were two factors that led him to his decision.  First he believed that God would provide as He had promised to take care of Jacob.  The second, which came from the many years of taking care of his father’s flocks and learning from his father and grandfather about animal husbandry.  He of course did not know about dominant and recessive genes but he knew about breeding of animals which he hoped would work to his advantage.

1. Why did Laban talk about giving Jacob something?
2. Why did Jacob want no part of that deal?
3. Why would it appear to be to Laban’s advantage to do what Jacob wanted to do?
4. How many flocks would now be involved in the agreement?
5. Why did Laban move the flocks so far away from Jacob?
6. What was to be Jacob’s wages?
7. Why was Jacob willing to make such an agreement which on the surface would appear to be detrimental to him?

Genesis 30:37-40

The methods use by Jacob depended on man’s ability to accomplish a goal.  It also begs the question of whether Jacob once again thought he had to help God out. His strong impatient personality was on the display.  Rather than allowing God to work out the solution, he went about giving God a hand.  Amazingly God still honored His promised and blessed Jacob’s efforts. Using what he had learned over the years was one thing but trying to accomplish the desired goal by what almost appears to be using magic seems strange.

In that day however, to use rods from the trees mentioned may have been a common practice.  It was thought to enhance the possibly of producing new breeds of animals.  He used trees that had bark that could be peeled by to expose the wood inside.  When the animals were exposed to the rods they would produce striped, spotted, speckled and black animals.  Each time this occurred Jacob would then separate them out from the sheep and goats that were the usual color. This would make up an additional flock of animals. Two belonged to Laban while the new goats and sheep bred to be variegated would make up the animals belonging to Jacob.

1. Why did Jacob use a method that would appear strange to us?
2. What did he hope to accomplish with the rods?
3. In what ways does this show that Jacob’s old nature was still prevalent?
4. What had he not learned in all of those years in Syria?
5. What do you think about the way he went about his work?
6. In what ways do you try to accomplish things to help God out?
7. Why did God bless his efforts?

Genesis 30:41-43

Another tactic he used was to only mate the strong animals in front of the rods.  As a result over a period of time the animals of Laban would be much weaker than those of Jacob.  It would appear that Jacob had no regard for his father-in-law and was only looking out for his own self interest.  Jacob became very prosperous.  His wealth increased to the point that he not only had large flocks but was able to acquire servants, camels and donkeys.

1. Why would Jacob use such a tactic as to make sure that the animals belonging to Laban were weak?
2. Why would God continue to bless a man who would stoop to such behavior?
3. What were the results of Jacob’s actions?
4. What do you think of his methods?
5. In what ways have you seen people undermine others with questionable actions?
6. How would he expect God to view those actions?

Genesis 31:1-2

As would be expected, Jacob heard that the son’s of Laban did not like what was going on.  They saw the wealth of their father and their inheritance evaporating right before their eyes.  They blamed Jacob for what he had done.  In part this may have been true, but it has to be remembered that they had the original flocks that had been separated out to build their own estate.  Even Laban’s attitude toward Jacob soured.  He no longer saw him as a benefactor but as an adversary.

1. What was the attitude of the sons toward Jacob?
2. In what ways was it justified?
3. In what ways do the son’s and Laban exemplify a victim’s mentality?
4. How would Jacob be considered an adversary in the mind of Laban?
5. What does this indicate about the son’s and Laban in regard to the responsibility that they should have shown towards their property?

Genesis 31:1-3

After all those years spent in Paddan-Aram God appeared to Jacob and told him it was time to go home.  As He had promised him before, God promised to be with him as he travelled.

1. Why did God wait so long before giving Jacob permission to go home?
2. What would have been the advantages or disadvantages of Jacob remaining any longer?
3. What may have happened if Jacob chose to disobey God?

Genesis 31:4-9

Jacob, upon hearing from God, called for Rachel and Leah to meet him out in the field where he was watching over his flock.  He probably had them come to him so that what he had in mind would not be heard by Laban or anyone in his household. He then explained to them what had been going on starting with Laban’s attitude toward him.  In essence, Laban no longer liked him but God had been with him the whole time he was in Paddan-Aram.

Jacob then laid out before them what had occurred since he had been in that city.

• He had faithfully served Laban with all his strength.
• Laban had cheated him.
• Had changed his wages ten times by changing the criteria of what constituted the makeup of the flocks that belonged to him.
• God had not allowed for Laban to hurt him.
• Because of Laban’s actions God had taken away his property and given it to Jacob.

 

1. Why did Jacob have his wives meet him in the field?
2. Why did he go to such lengths to explain what had happened to him?
3. In what ways did Jacob live up to the agreement?
4. In what ways did Laban violate the agreement?
5. How did Jacob see the hand of God moving in all that was going on?
6. Based on the last question what assurance do we have that God is with us in difficult times?

Genesis 31:9-12

Finally is seen the reason that Jacob did the things that he did.  He had seen in a dream that God was aware of what was taking place.  In the dream he saw that when the animals mated that they produced variegated animals.  Jacob was assured that God had seen everything that Laban had done to him.  Although not mentioned again here it can be assumed that the emphasis was that Laban had lost everything because of his treatment of Jacob.

1. What was the reason that Jacob acted as he did?
2. Why was the dream important to him?
3. What assurance did he receive from it?

Genesis 31:13

So there would be no doubt in Jacob’s mind of who was speaking to him, God identified Himself as the “God of Bethel.”  He also reminded him that he had built a pillar and made a vow to Him. Then He commanded to leave and return home.

1. Why did God need to identify Himself to Jacob?
2. How did He do it?
3. Why did He remind Jacob of what had occurred at Bethel?
4. Why did He command Jacob to leave Syria and return home?

Genesis 31:14-16

The reaction of the two women was quick and decisive.  They saw too that they had been used by their father to get what he wanted.  In their minds, there was no portion or inheritance for them in the future. They felt like they were being treated like foreigners in their own household. This attitude was probably an overflow from the way that Laban and his son’s felt about Jacob.  The service that Jacob had given to Laban had more than made up for any dowry that would have been given for them.  Finally they viewed the wealth transferred by God from Laban to Jacob as belonging to them because of treatment towards them at the hand of their father.

1. How had Laban used his daughters?
2. Why did they feel he had more than used up the dowry price paid by Jacob through his service for the two wives?
3. Why would they have felt they were like foreigners in their father’s household?
4. How did they see God’s hand working in their situation?
5. In what ways were they accurate in their assessment?

Genesis 31:17-18

With the backing of his wives, Jacob began the trip back to Canaan.  He loaded up his family onto camels and drove all of his animals before him.  Nothing that he had acquired was left behind.

1. Why was it important to have the backing from his two wives before going starting the trip to Canaan and his father?
2. Why is there no mention of Bildah and Zilpah in these discussions?

Genesis 31:19

Rachel took care of one last piece of business before she left.  When Laban went out to shear the sheep she took the household gods.  The fact that there were household gods says that Laban did not depend on God but idols for direction for his life.  This would possibly provide some answers to why he was able to deceive and oppress those in his household.  By taking the idols, Rachel would have struck at the heart of what Laban held dear.  It would also say that all relationships with her father were now broken.

1. Why did Rachel bother with going back and taking the gods of her father?
2. What does this tells us about what was important to Laban?
3. In what ways does this help us understand his actions toward all those around him including Jacob, his sons and his daughters?
4. What was Rachel saying about her relationship with her father by taking the idols?

Genesis 31:20-21

Jacob decided not to tell his father-in-law that he was leaving. He probably took the same opportunity that Rachel used to begin the trip.  With Laban gone to shear the sheep it would be sometime before he realized that Jacob, his family and all of the property that belonged to Jacob was gone.  Moses used the words fleeing and fled to describe the urgency of Jacob’s actions. He left as quickly as he could from Paddan-Aram crossing over the Euphrates River to head for the home of his father. In the initial phase of the journey he made it as far as Gilead which would have been east of the Jordan River which years later would become part of the inheritance of Israel.

1. Why did Jacob not tell Laban was he was planning to leave?
2. How was he able to pull it off?
3. Why did Moses use the term fleeing and fled to describe Jacob’s actions?
4. Why was the crossing the Euphrates important?
5. What does the fact that he did not tell Laban and that he fled tell us about Jacob?

You-

• Understand that integrity in following through on your promises is important.
• Weigh all decisions you make that may affect your future and those around you.
• Never get ahead of God.
• When you have sought God’s counsel and He has answered you, do not delay in following through on the decision you must make.
• Unlike Jacob do not live in fear of the consequences of a decision that you have made with God’s leading.

We-

We are presented with all types of opportunities to serve God.  There are so many ministries that can be taken on that sometimes we have a difficult time knowing which is good for our church.  One way of looking at them is to evaluate the capabilities of carrying them out in the most impactful way for the kingdom of God.  There are certain things that just do not fit who we are.  This is not to say that we are to limit God in any way. 

The important part of making any decision is to look at the ways that God has equipped us.  I go back to what we discover in the Life Development class 301 about the individual.  The same pattern found there also fits a church.  The factors to consider before starting any new ministries, is what collectively do we bring to the table?  The aspects of a person and church singled out in 301 are Spiritual Gifts, Heart (passions, desires etc.), Abilities (skills and natural talents), Personality and Experiences.  These are the resources that God gives us to decide what will be our part in His kingdom’s work.

Jacob understood himself and his capabilities. He relied on his relationship with God and the training that he had received over the years taking care of his father’s animals.  What seemed to be a risky move was not that at all.  Let us like him evaluate who we are before trying to move out into deep water which may overwhelm us.  As a church let us prayerfully and honestly do what God has called us to do.

Additional Notes:

B-L Laban, who is smart enough to realize that Jacob was his ticket to success, begged Jacob to stay.  The two men finally work out a way to pay him for his efforts.  He was to give Jacob all the speckled and spotted lambs and goats, which were the less desirable animals, from his flocks and keep the rest for himself.  Jacob accepted, and then through a strange combination of divine influence and superstitious remedies, he influenced the flocks and herds to produce a bumper crop of strong, healthy animals!  Using the strange methods the Bible says, Jacob grew exceedingly prosperous–and pretty soon, Paddan- Aram was not big enough to hold both Jacob and Laban. Jacob, it seemed, was finally learning to do things God’s way.  He found out it is always the best way!  If only he had figured it out twenty years before. Rachel, it seemed, had yet learned her lesson, but it was coming! (Genesis 31)

BL- After discussing it with his wives, Jacob and his family sneak off without revealing their plans to Laban. On the way out, Rachel grabs her father’s household gods and hides them in her saddle.  Buddy explained that by stealing these idols, Rachel was insuring that the family inheritance would bypass her brothers and fall to her own children. (Genesis 31:4,21)

M-When a man loses all of his ill gotten gain then he begins to change in his relationship to others.  He begins to be suspicion, jealous and blame others for his failures.  Laban had used Jacob to gain whatever wealth he had. (Gen. 31:1)

WM-Even Laban’s sons had adopted their father’s attitudes of greed and distrust.  They blamed Jacob for their problems. (Gen. 31:1)

C-As he increased in wealth the attitude of Laban and his sons changed toward Jacob.  No longer were they friendly, but began to make accusations that Jacob had taken from had belonged to Laban.  What was the real reason for this attitude shift?  (Gen. 31:1-2, 5)

E-After twenty years of service to Laban God confirmed Jacob’s decision that it was time to return to Canaan. (Gen. 31:3, 11-13)

C-Jacob at the Lord’s direction decided to return to Canaan.  God promised to be with him as he made the journey. (Gen. 31:3, 13)

UE-After all that he had done we find that the Lord is still with Jacob as he made the journey back to Canaan. (Gen. 31:3)

UE-Having said what was mentioned above the other side of the discussion might be that Jacob saw what had happened as God intervening and taking away what had been Laban’s because of his mistreatment of Jacob.  This argument is validated in Jacob’s words to his wives.  They had seen and understood what had been taking place. (Gen. 31:5-16)

M-Jacob is an example of one of those individuals that perseveres in the face of many difficulties.  He told his wives that he had “served your father with all my strength.” To them he explained how their father had cheated him and had changed his wages changed ten times.   (Gen. 31:6-7, 38-42)

M-Jacob understood that all he had was given to him by God.  Having this understanding, he listened to and followed God’s direction. (Gen. 31:5, 7, 9 & 13)

WM-Laban continued to be unscrupulous in his dealings with Jacob.  While he had tried to be honest Laban had cheated him and changed his wages ten times. (Gen. 31:7)

WM-Although God told Jacob to return to Canaan and his father Isaac.  His faith was not strong enough that he could openly tell Laban that he was leaving.  His departure was done in secret thus it might be viewed as another deception. (Gen. 31:13, 16, 20, 27, 31)

C-Rachel and Leah were willing to leave their home and relatives and go with Jacob to Canaan. (Gen. 31:14-16)

C-Jacob carried through on his decision and started back home.  (Gen. 31:17-18, 20-21)