Genesis 30:37-43 – Ways Around the Rules

Jacob and Laban have made an agreement that Jacob will work for Laban in exchange for any animals born spotted, speckled, or streaked. At first glance this agreement seems to prevent any form of cheating by either Jacob or Laban. But these two deceivers manage to find a few ways to get around the rules and work things for their own advantage. For instance, Laban immediately removes all discoloured animals from his flocks and herds, giving them to his sons. This severely limits the possibilities of speckled animals being born. It looks as though Jacob will receive very poor wages for his work after all.

But Jacob is clever as well. Using what must have been an old shepherd’s trick, he induces the animals to bear spotted and speckled young. And then, he mates the discoloured animals with the strongest animals, so that as time goes by, his flocks and herds increase in numbers and strength, while Laban’s animals are weak and few.

Jacob would never have had such great success at increasing his wealth, if God hadn’t blessed him. It was God who was causing the sheep and cows to bear speckled, spotted, and streaked. Jacob had believed and put his trust in the Lord, and despite his sinfulness, God loved him and took care of him in every way, including controlling the births of the animals to Jacob’s advantage.