Hope for When People Want to Defraud You

“If he said, 'The speckled ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, 'The streaked ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks bore streaked young. (Genesis 31:8 N.I.V)

Laban’s flocks fared well under Jacob’s care such that the little he had multiplied greatly. Laban agreed to pay Jacob’s diligent service with every speckled and spotted sheep, every dark colored lamb and every spotted and speckled goat. These livestock were a small percentage of the total but Laban mischievously removed them from the herd so that Jacob could not breed using them. He wanted Jacob to leave with nothing irrespective of the fact that he was married to his two daughters Leah and Rachel. But God is a miracle worker. He got involved with the breeding to provide for Jacob, and the flocks bore many streaked, spotted and speckled animals and he became prosperous. In their jealousy Laban’s sons said,” "Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father." Genesis 31:1.

Have others connived to cheat you of what you fairly deserve? Let Jacob’s experience offer you hope for God’s intervention even in the most naturally impossible ways.

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“Selfish men consider themselves robbed of all that goes past them, and covetousness will even swallow up natural affection”. Matthew Henry.

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