Bible Discussion Thread

Jacob sure lived an interesting life, but not, perhaps. more so than Noah, Shem, ........Abraham, Isaac. We just are noit given quite as much info on these other brothers in the Lord.

Jacob had been away from his family for 20 years. He was at least 60 years old by now and Isaac was about 120 yrs. or more. God appears and speaks to Jacob and says to go home. He was ready to go back home, His quiver was full of children, his flocks had prospered to the point of greatly outnumbering Laban's. It seems that Laban had sons, as it says they complained about the state of their flocks as compared to Jacob's. Laban must have left the tending of his flocks totally to his sons and Jacob. Otherwise, he would have known what was the state of his flocks. He was not happy to see Jacob wealthy and now his wealth diminished, having been transferred to Jacob through the increase in Jacob's flock.

Jacob explains that he has tended the flocks in good faith for 20 years, even though Laban had changed his wages 10 times. Laban was crafty and intended to take advantage of Jacob. Jacob was mild mannered, unlike Esau. But he was also wise enough to depend on God, since God continued to bless him. It says he served Laban with all of his might. So he was all in to the job, not lazy, or looking for a way to get out of work. He was worth far more than the wage he was being paid. I was taught to work this way. I have been overqualified for most of the jobs I have had, but still worked hard and earned my wage. In one restaurant job, I worked with some workers just out of high school. They did not do their best to earn their wage, commenting that they were only getting minimum wage, so they di d not have to work hard. God honored Jacob's work ethic and blessed the work of his hands.

Leah and Rachel were concerned about leaving without any of the inheritance that they should receive. Ordinarily, a suitor would pay a dowry for a wife, but Jacob had not done so......