SAY WHAT? (What is the passage saying?)
- In this chapter there’s a lot of talk about spotted goats. Laban, Jacob’s father-in-law, and Jacob spent a lot of energy in tricking each other.
- The chapter ends with some odd herding practices by Jacob that apparently worked and made him very wealthy.
SO WHAT? (What are the underlying principles?)
- We don’t know how much of their culture plays into this account of trickery between Laban and Jacob but we do know that as followers of God we’re to take the higher road concerning our character. Jacob worked very hard for his father-in-law, even after being tricked in horrible ways, which shows great character. Perhaps this account of trickery on Jacob’s part was because he knew Laban was tricking him again.
NOW WHAT? (How will you personally apply this passage?)
- In what ways do you need to protect your character? Are you living with integrity in every area in your life? What are some things you could do over the next few days to build or protect that integrity?
