“Genesis 30:31-36”

Thursday, February 13, 2020

“'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: 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. So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen.' Laban said, 'Good, let it be according to your word.' So he removed on that day the striped and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, every one with white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons. And he put a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.”

---End of Scripture verses---

“What shall I give you?” (verse 31) Laban was still unwilling to make an offer to Jacob for his future services, but placed the ball squarely in Jacob's court to name his price. “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me...” Jacob didn't want Laban to GIVE anything to him, but merely to DO something for him. Jacob had suggested a scenario in which the Lord would provide his increase and Laban could take no credit for it, while simultaneously removing further opportunity for his father-in-law to furtively swindle him out of his belongings. At least he thought. This was in reality not Jacob's design but a system that God had revealed to him in a dream (Genesis 31:10-13)

“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.” (verse 32) “In the Near East, sheep are generally white and goats are dark brown or black. A minority of sheep may have dark patches, and goats white marking. It is these uncommon types to be born in the future that Jacob demands as wages for his unpaid services. Laban readily agrees, believing that he is getting a bargain on account of their rarity. He promptly withdraws all the livestock that already possess the specified characteristics and moves them a considerable distance away to avoid contact with the rest of the flocks that remain in Jacob's care. However, Jacob succeeds in outwitting Laban in the course of the next six years (31:41).

“So my honesty will answer for me... (verse 33) Jacob would not have to speak a word in regard to what animals belonged to which man. His honesty would be obvious by the coloration of the flocks in a way that all eyes could see. “Either by the success I shall have, and the blessing of God upon me, making it prosperous; it will appear in time to come, and to all posterity, that I have most righteously and faithfully served thee: or rather, such a separation being made in Laban's flock, all the spotted ones being removed, and only white ones left with Jacob to keep; it would be a clear case hereafter, if any such should be found with Jacob, they were not taken from Laban's flock, but were what in Providence he was blessed with, and came by honestly and righteously.” (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible) “Later when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen.”

“Laban said, 'Good, let it be according to your word.'” (verse 34) Okay great! You've got yourself a deal! It will be just as you say! Until, of course, Jacob eventually tries to take what is rightfully his and leave again, and Laban decides to keep by force what he willingly bargained away! “So he removed on that day the striped and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, every one with white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons. And he put a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.” (verses 35-36) Jacob agreed to start from scratch, with a clean slate, claiming none of the animals of the original herds as his own. “So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys” (verse 43), and it was all garnered from his own expertise guided and provided by the powerful hand of the Lord God Almighty.

Please read Genesis 30:37-43

Have a blessed day!

- Louie Taylor

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