Jacob’s Wisdom and God’s Blessing

Genesis 30:35–43 (NASB95) 

35So he removed on that day the striped and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, every one with white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons. 36And he put a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks. 37Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white which was in the rods. 38He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the gutters, even in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink; and they mated when they came to drink. 39So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban; and he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41Moreover, whenever the stronger of the flock were mating, Jacob would place the rods in the sight of the flock in the gutters, so that they might mate by the rods; 42but when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. 43So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys. 

Once again, we see Laban act like Laban and attempt to deceive and manipulate Jacob. Remember the lesson: those in darkness try to disrupt the work of God's followers. We should expect it.  

Laban tried to block Jacob’s success. He removed all the streaked, spotted, and dark-colored animals from the flock. He put them under his sons’ care and set a three-day distance between them and Jacob. Laban wanted to make sure Jacob could not claim any of these animals as his wages. Laban acted out of self-interest and deceit. He looked for ways to protect his own wealth and keep Jacob in a place of dependence. Laban’s actions show a heart set on personal gain, not on fairness or faithfulness.  

Jacob responded with wisdom and creativity. He used peeled branches and placed them in the watering troughs. This method was based on ancient beliefs about animal breeding. Jacob also made sure to breed the stronger animals for himself and left the weaker ones for Laban. Jacob’s strategy was clever. He worked hard and paid attention to the details. He did not let Laban’s schemes stop him. Jacob’s actions show resourcefulness and a desire to provide for his own family.  

God’s blessing made the difference. Jacob’s flocks grew strong and numerous. He gained servants, camels, and donkeys. Jacob’s prosperity was not just the result of his own efforts. God intervened. God kept His promise to bless Jacob, just as He had blessed Abraham and Isaac. No amount of human scheming could stop what God had planned. God’s faithfulness stands out against Laban’s selfishness.  

The contrast between Jacob and Laban is clear. Laban used people for his own benefit. He tried to control and manipulate. Jacob, though not perfect, worked within God’s plan. He trusted God’s promise and acted with wisdom. God honored Jacob’s faith and effort. Laban’s opposition could not stop God’s blessing. 

The church today must remember that God’s plans cannot be stopped by human schemes. People may try to use, distract, or derail those who follow God. Stay faithful. Work with wisdom. Trust that God will provide and protect.