Genesis 31:1-13: a reflection

1Jacob heard Laban’s sons’ words, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s. He has obtained all this wealth from that which was our father’s.” 2Jacob saw the expression on Laban’s face, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 3The LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” 4Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock, 5and said to them, “I see the expression on your father’s face, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6You know that I have served your father with all of my strength. 7Your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God didn’t allow him to hurt me. 8If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore speckled. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then all the flock bore streaked. 9Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock, and given them to me. 10During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled. 11The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12He said, ‘Now lift up your eyes, and behold, all the male goats which leap on the flock are streaked, speckled, and grizzled, for I have seen all that Laban does to you. 13I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you vowed a vow to me. Now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”

Jacob has spent years working for his uncle Laban, and Laban has treated him badly, cheating him, changing his wages ten times, exploiting his labor. It would be easy for Jacob to conclude that God had abandoned him to an unjust employer. But as he prepares to leave, Jacob sees it differently: your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, he says, but God did not permit him to harm me. And, he adds, God has taken your father's livestock and given them to me.

Notice what Jacob perceives underneath the years of mistreatment. Laban cheated him, yes, repeatedly, but God did not allow that cheating to finally harm him. Behind the scenes, through all the injustice, God was protecting Jacob and even providing for him, so that the very schemes meant to keep him down did not ultimately succeed. God did not spare Jacob the unjust treatment, but he guarded him within it and brought him through it provided for.

There is real comfort in that for anyone under an unfair boss, an exploitative situation, someone who keeps changing the terms to their own advantage. God may not immediately remove the injustice, but he is not absent from it. He can guard you from ultimate harm even where you are being wronged, and provide for you in ways the unjust cannot finally prevent. And, as with Jacob, God knows when to say, it is time; return, and I will be with you. Trust that God sees the injustice, guards you within it, and will bring you through.

Lord, like Jacob under Laban, I sometimes labor under injustice and unfair treatment. Thank you that even when others cheat and exploit, you can guard me from ultimate harm and provide for me within it. Help me trust that you see the injustice, keep me through it, and know the right time to lead me on. Be with me.