The Secret of Jacob’s Success
Genesis 30:25 – 31:16
Today we return to our study in Genesis and the life of Jacob. We pick up the story in Genesis 30:25 after the birth of his eleventh son Joseph. Remember that Jacob is living in Haran, the home of his uncle Laban. He has gone there for two reasons: one, he was fleeing from his brother Esau who wanted to kill him for deceptively taking his father’s blessing (Gen. 27:43); and two, to find a wife for himself from his mother’s family (Gen. 28:2).
On the way from Canaan to Haran Jacob had met the LORD. Alone at night, a stone for a pillow, Jacob had a dream of a ladder from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. The LORD spoke to Jacob from above it saying,
“I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (Gen. 28:13-15).
Jacob responded by worshiping the LORD and made a vow saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.” It was Jacob’s beginning with God. But he has a long, hard road before him in his walk with God and many lessons that God will teach him through these hardships.
Remember that because of the trickery of Laban, Jacob ends up with two wives instead of just the one he loved and had to pay double the labor for them. He has been in Haran for at least 14 years, not the few days he had planned. In the last seven years his wives and their servants have given birth to eleven sons and at least one daughter for Jacob. God is fulfilling his promise to multiply Jacob’s descendants. But God had also promised to prosper him (“spread abroad” = abound, teem in Gen. 28:14) and to bring him back to the land He had promised to Abraham and Isaac. These promises are not yet fulfilled.
But God has not forgotten, and neither has Jacob.
Jacob renegotiates with Laban (Gen. 30:25-36)
Our story opens with Jacob ready to return to Canaan:
25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.” (Gen. 30:25-26).
Having fulfilled his obligation of fourteen years of service to Laban for his wives Leah and Rachel, Jacob seeks his release so that he might return to his homeland and family. We can understand Jacob’s readiness to go home. Laban had been a hard, deceiving boss. Jacob’s return had already been delayed seven years longer than he had expected. No doubt he desired to return to his family. And God had promised to bring Jacob back to the promised land where he would be blessed (Gen. 28:10-22).[1]
Laban was reluctant to let Jacob go. He had come to realize that his prosperity was the result of Jacob’s presence.
27 And Laban said to him, “Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake.”28 Then he said, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” (Gen. 30:27-28).
Laban wants to renegotiate a new contract with Jacob. He sees that the LORD has blessed him on account of Jacob, although Laban doesn’t seem interested in Jacob’s God, just the material blessings.
29 So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me.30 For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?” (Gen. 30:29-30).
He presents to Laban four arguments for his side of the contract: 1) Jacob’s hard work; 2) his excellent care of the animals; 3) the prosperity the LORD had brought through him; 4) his responsibility for his large and growing family.[2]
Now that Laban is prepared to accept a hard bargain, Jacob names his terms.
31 So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks:32 Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages.33 So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.”
Laban quickly accepts.
34 And Laban said, “Oh, that it were according to your word!”
The deal seems to be to his advantage. Normally goats in that land were black or dark brown, seldom white or spotted with white. On the other hand, the eastern sheep were nearly always white, rarely black or spotted. Jacob offered to continue working as a tender of the flocks if he were but to receive the rarer of the offspring. This would be a far smaller percentage than the normal 20 percent which might be paid to care for the flocks.
Laban immediately moves to take advantage of Jacob.
35 So he removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons.36 Then he put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks. (Gen. 30:35-36).
By removing the spotted and striped animals he reduced the chances of other spotted or striped animals being conceived, since these would not be mating with the flock. It was too good to be true, Laban must have thought. How could he possibly lose?
Jacob’s schemes to prosper (Gen. 30:37-43)
Jacob wasn’t one to sit around bemoaning a setback. So he went to work implementing the latest scheme of animal husbandry.
37 Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods.38 And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink.39 So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted. (Gen. 30:37-39).
The first method Jacob used was peeled branches. It was thought that if the flocks had a visual impression of stripes while they were mating and conceiving, the offspring would assume this same form. And even though we know that genetics determine the color of animals, not peeled poles, amazingly, it appeared to be working!
The second phase of Jacob’s plan was to segregate the flocks.
40 Then Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban’s flock. (Gen. 30:40).
The third phase was a kind of selective breeding.
41 And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.42 But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. (Gen. 30:41-42).
Jacob worked to ensure that the strong animals went to him, while the weak went to Laban.
What was the result of Jacob’s schemes?
43 Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
Jacob’s flocks were so successful that he was able to barter them to obtain luxuries like camels, donkeys, and servants to care for all his wealth. From everything that has been said, we would naturally conclude that the great prosperity of Jacob. was due to his shrewd techniques for manipulating the outcome of the mating of the flocks. So it would seem. So it seemed to Jacob.
Certainly, the Bible encourages us to work for our living. God expects us to be good workers for our employers, to serve them like we would serve the Lord Himself. Paul writes to the Colossian church,
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:22-24).
This is the attitude we are to have at work. And Jacob had worked heartily. He had used his intelligence and shepherding skills. Some commentators praise Jacob here for his wisdom and his faith. Others chide him for his worldly schemes and carnal efforts. Jacob is a complicated man, one who knew God and walked with God, yet one who often relied on the flesh. He’s a lot like us, right? Jacob makes us long for one who is pure, undefiled, who serves God perfectly with no mixed motives. He makes us yearn for the simplicity and integrity of Jesus Christ, the one through whom all the nations of the earth would be truly blessed.
Was Jacob’s success really due to his schemes?
Moses gives us a clue to the real secret of Jacob’s success in Genesis 30:43. Almost all of the words used to depict Jacob’s increase in 30:43 are borrowed from similar depictions of his ancestors’ prospering (24:1, 35; 26:3, 12). In other words, what had happened to Abraham and Isaac was true of Jacob, too—his wealth, just like his predecessors’, was a result of divine blessing.[3]
We will see this even more clearly in Genesis 31.
Jacob plans to depart (31:1-16)
Jacob’s newly obtained prosperity caused problems for Jacob with Laban and his sons:
1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.”2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. (Gen. 31:1-2).
When Jacob prospered at Laban’s expense, it is easy to understand why Laban’s sons looked on him with disfavor, for all their inheritance was fleeing before their very eyes. But not only did circumstances seem to dictate that Jacob leave, but God revealed to Jacob that it was time to return to his homeland:
3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.” (Gen. 31:3).
The last recorded revelation that Jacob had received from the LORD was twenty years previous while he was still in the land of promise (Gen. 28:10ff.). Now Jacob receives a divine directive to return home. What circumstances suggested Jacob do, God instructed Jacob to do.
Jacob is going to obey God, but he needs to get his wives on board with him.
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father. 7 Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. 9 So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. 10 And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted.11 Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’”
Jacob called his wives to him in the field. There he could have a private conversation with them and there he could show the evidence of how God had blessed him. Jacob in effect says that their father had given them a dirty deal (Gen. 31:5-9). Jacob has worked hard (Gen. 31:6), but Laban has been the cheater (Gen. 31:7) continually changing the terms of their agreement (Gen. 31:8).
But more than that, Jacob is finally taking spiritual leadership and responsibility for his family. He makes a great confession of faith before his wives as he relates the dream he had where God spoke to him. Jacob confesses these truths about God:
- God has been with him (Gen. 31:5).
Laban’s attitude was not friendly “towards/with him” (Gen. 31:2, 5). The prepositional phrase “towards/with him” is perfectly balanced by “towards/with you” (Gen. 31:3)—Yahweh’s attitude towards Jacob. The foe is against him, but God is for him. - God has protected him (Gen. 31:7).
“God did not allow him to hurt me.” Laban tried to change his wages, but God did not allow it to harm Jacob. - God has provided for him (Gen. 31:8-12).
Laban had changed his wages ten times, but God changed the flocks. God showed Jacobs that it was not his scheming, his intelligence, or his hard work that was the secret to his success. It was God who increased the flocks. It was God who caused the streaked and speckled animals to be born, not the peeled poles. God’s sovereign hand was the secret to Jacob’s success. Not himself. Jacob was successful because God had promised it and God accomplished it.
Think of it. All of Jacob’s efforts were of no benefit. All that time peeling poles and separating flocks and striving to outdo Laban was all for naught. What seemed at the moment to be the work of Jacob’s hands and the outcome of his schemes was nothing of the sort. It was the hand of God in spite of his scheming, not because of it.[4] - God has directed him (Gen. 31:13).
“I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.” This same God, Who had revealed Himself at Bethel was instructing Jacob to return.
When you come to know God and trust in Him, you can make this same kind of confession. God has been with me; He has protected me; provided for me; and directed me. It is God who will lead us home.
Jacob was able to convince his wives that it was right to leave Laban.
14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. 16 For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”
They recognized that they no longer were in their father’s favor. Laban had sold these daughters to Jacob and then spent the proceeds on himself. They also recognized God’s hand in Jacob’s prosperity. God took the riches from their father and gave them to Jacob. Their own statement of faith was, “whatever God has said to you, do it.”
The parallels between Jacob’s sojourn in Paddan-Aram and Israel’s bondage in Egypt must have been evident to the nation as they first read this account from the pen of Moses. Jacob’s sin necessitated this departure just as Joseph’s journey was the result of many sins. Jacob went to Paddan-aram a poor man, but he left with a large family and great wealth. Joseph was sent to Egypt a virtual slave; but when the nation emerged at the exodus, they were many, and they had considerable wealth. Just as Laban was judged of God by his wealth being given to Jacob, so Egypt was judged by the wealth that was taken out at the exodus.
Just as Jacob’s wealth did not come through his scheming but in spite of it, the Israelites were to understand that their blessings were a gift from God. Jacob was not blessed of God because of his godliness but due to God’s grace. God always deals with His people in grace.
The theme of this story of Jacob is the same one that we have seen over and over again in Genesis: God is faithful to fulfill His promises. He will do it by His sovereign power in spite of the sin and failings and schemes of men. God does it by His grace so that all praise goes to Him and not to ourselves.
Moses will remind the descendants of Jacob:
11 “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest–when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end– 17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ 18 And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” (Deut. 8:11-18)
The blessing of God comes only through the grace of God. It’s the same is true of our salvation. We cannot obtain eternal life by anything that we do. It is only by the grace of God. Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9). Bob Deffinbaugh writes,
Religion is as distinct from Christianity as Jacob’s pole-peeling was from God’s sovereign grace in the life of Jacob. Countless men and women are trying to work their way into God’s heaven by their own devices. Some of these would include church membership, baptism, confirmation, communion, church leadership, charity, and so on. Now all of these activities may have great value to the one who is already a Christian, but they are useless to the one who is trying to win God’s approval and blessing by doing them. The appearance of benefit may be there but not the reality of it. People may think we are Christians. They may commend our devotion to duty. But self-effort is mere pole-peeling so far as God is concerned.[5]
The only way to eternal life is to recognize that we are undeserving of it and we cannot earn it. The work of salvation is by God’s sovereign hand. He has accomplished it by His Son, Jesus Christ who bore the penalty for our sins on the cross. Salvation comes when we trust in nothing more and nothing less than the finished work of Jesus Christ for our eternal blessings.
And this is why we come to the Lord’s Table today. We come to remember Jesus Christ who paid our sin debt in full with His own precious blood. We come humbly because we know we did not earn our salvation, nor do we deserve even to be loved by God. We come grateful to God for His mercy, His grace, and His kindness shown us in Jesus Christ. We come by faith, trusting only in the shed blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. We come confessing the Jesus Christ is Lord.
[1] Bob Deffinbaugh, Jacob Gets Laban’s Goat, https://bible.org/seriespage/32-jacob-gets-laban-s-goat-genesis-3025-3116
[2] Geoff Thomas, The Strange Prospering of Jacob, http://geoffthomas.org/index.php/gtsermons/the-strange-prospering-of-jacob/
[3] Abe Kuruvilla, https://homiletix.com/preaching2019/commentaries/gen_30_25-31_16/
[4] Deffinbaugh, https://bible.org/seriespage/32-jacob-gets-laban-s-goat-genesis-3025-3116
[5] Deffinbaugh
