A Turn of Events

Jacob has yet to stand strong in the face of his father in law, Laban, yet who can blame him for his actions? Laban has deceived and bartered away his livelihood, and it wasn’t just once but many times. And so now Jacob deceives Laban back. The deceiver becomes the deceived. Laban rightly said that his success has come to him because of Jacob’s faithfulness to guard his flocks. We wonder why Laban has not yet learned that what he just said might be a cause for his downfall, but I digress.The fool never learns from his actions and words. 

Jacob devises a plan to build his flocks and when he hears that his brothers in law complaining about him decides to leave secretly after gaining his wives encouragement to do so. Jacob and his family leave while Laban is away. When Laban returns and in anger goes after Jacob he fails to realize that this was a turn from God. It must have been humiliating to Laban to be confronted by God but he obeys reluctantly.

What is the lesson we can take from this saga? God will direct our steps even when we are afraid or others seek our demise.