GENESIS 30
37 Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. 38 He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, 39 the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks, 42 but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys. – Genesis 30:37-43
GENESIS 30 JACOB’S METHOD OF INCREASING WEALTH
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When Laban agreed for him to go back to his country
Jacob continued to increase Laban’s wealth through breeding
He worked hard, dedicating himself to his uncle’s success
By doing so, God blessed him with much increase in his riches.
Jacob’s method of breeding Laban’s and his animals was blessed by God not just because of Jacob’s efforts, but because of God’s faithfulness to fulfill his covenant promise to Abraham. We clearly see how blessed he was with many offspring from his wives and also how the Lord has continually increased his wealth as God’s promise to his grandfather.
At this point, he didn’t yet know how Laban was cheating him with the flock. It shows his dedication and faithfulness to honor his word. He didn’t even want Laban to give him a wage, but he actually asked for what he already had been blessed with. His focus was not on getting rich but to go back to his country and be responsible for his own family. He didn’t want to stay at Laban’s place forever. It just shows how he longed to be back with his own people as well.
REFLECTION
- How did Jacob manifest God’s blessing and favor on his life in Paddan-Aram?
