A Just and Merciful God. Part [14] 03/27/2025 (Morning thought)

Genesis 31:14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? 15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. 16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

There are critically important lessons for us to take away from the narrative, so that we in our experiences may do the right thing, where in the doings of both Laban and Jacob there were a number of discrepancies. These lessons are enumerated below, so that we in our lifetime may chart straight paths for our feet.

[1] The issue of just wages for work done. If there is an agreement between two persons for work to be done, the contract should be honored by both. That which was done by Laban, by removing all the cattle that would have represented payment to Jacob, was not right at all. Furthermore, individuals should not wait until work is finished to then let the worker know that they will pay at some future date. That is fraud, and is a form of dishonesty in God’s sight.

If a person does not have the funds to pay for work promptly, after it has been completed, that should be made clear to the worker up front, but not after the work is finished. For example, let’s say Laban was living in our day, and he promised to pay Jacob two hundred Bitcoin for work done; if he does not have it currently, he should say so up front, not after the work is done.

 Genesis 31:17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; 18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

A Just and Merciful God. Part [13] 03/27/2025 (Evening thought)

Genesis 31:6 You know that with all my power I have served your father. 7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Genesis 31:8 If he said thus, the speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bore speckled: and if he said thus, the ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bore all the cattle ringstraked. 9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

Again, the seeker for truth should not quibble about the ways and means adopted even if they may seem to be out of line with Scriptural principles. The fact is that God was involved with the issue, and as such, the valid questions some might have should find the answers in God’s Sovereignty.

Instead of going back and forth about the legality of Jacob’s actions, we should try not to miss the bigger picture, of years of injustice done to Jacob by Laban. And now, at God’s discretion, it is time for the tables to be turned, and in the process, God will use the oppressed to mete out justice to the oppressor.

 Genesis 31:11 And the angel of God spoke unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, here am I. 12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked  speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!