The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 30:26-33, “’Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you.”

27 But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account.”

28 He continued, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.”

29 But he said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared with me.

30 “For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?”

31 So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock:

32 let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages.

33 “So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen.”

It’s difficult to ascertain which of the two, Laban or Jacob, was the greater schemer. They each spoke of “honesty,” as if it were his middle name. Jacob was anxious to get back home! Laban possessed a very good laborer in Jacob, so he didn’t want to lose him.

How anxious Laban was to retain Jacob can be measured in his words,

“Name me your wages, and I will give it.” (Sounds like a good deal to me.) Yet, Jacob, who was always up to the task of a good bargain –especially when it was ultimately to his advantage, said, “…you had little before I came and (your flock) has increased to a multitude…!” No, Jacob was not to settle for a pittance! He would never do that!

Then Laban simply asked, “What shall I give you?” (Just what Jacob had been waiting to be asked!) What he ultimately asked appeared to be quite equitable. He wanted the speckled, the spotted, the black lambs and goats –all of them that bore these marks. Somehow, it seemed equitable.

The LORD has blessed us accordingly! Yes, we’re required to labor; but His blessings are more than equitable! Beyond that, we need not beg or bargain from Him. He always has and always will do us right. Still, we cannot expect His blessing unless we’re willing to put in the labor! What does He have for us to do today?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom