Scripture Daily

Context No. 653 of 4322 · Genesis

Context · Reflection

Genesis 30:32-36: in context

32I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire. 33So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be considered stolen.” 34Laban said, “Behold, let it be according to your word.” 35That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. 36He set three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

Jacob has worked fourteen years for Laban, seven for each of his daughters, and now he wants to build something of his own before he leaves. He proposes his wages plainly. Let him keep every speckled, spotted, and dark animal from the flock; those will be his pay, and any unmarked one found with him can be called stolen. Laban agrees at once. Then, the same day, he removes all the speckled and spotted and dark animals himself and puts three days' distance between them, so Jacob starts with nothing.

This is a contest between two men who deceive. Jacob had dressed in his brother's clothes to steal a blessing from a blind father, and had been paid back on his wedding night when Laban swapped Leah for Rachel (29:23). Now the two are matched. Laban keeps the letter of the bargain and empties it of everything that made it worth making. The story does not stop to judge either man. It lets the deceiver meet his equal.

Jacob met in Laban a sharper version of his own cunning. When someone outplays me at a game I taught myself, what is it I am really being shown?

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