Genesis 30:25-43

Jacob wanted to go home, but not as a failure. If he left now he would leave broken. He had worked 14 years and all he had to show for it were more mouths to feed. He had two wives, two concubines, eleven sons and at least one daughter.

Laban did not want Jacob to go. Jacob was a good worker. On this there is agreement. Laban knew that God had blessed him through Jacob’s labor. Laban’s flocks had increased greatly under Jacob’s care. He asked Jacob what it would take to keep him working.

Writings from that time period show that a top manager would be paid 20% of the increase in a herd or flock. Jacob asked for a wage that would have been expected to be much less than 20%. Animals with the markings that were to be his were very rare.

They were to separate the flocks that day, and all those with the rare markings were to be Jacob’s starter flock. Afterwards all newborns would belong to Laban’s flock, or Jacob’s, depending upon their markings. Before they could separate out Jacob’s starter flock, Laban sorted out all the animals with a rare markings and had his sons take them away. Laban cheated Jacob out of his first pay. Without a starter flock it was unlikely that Laban’s flock would produce any animals with the rare markings.

Jacob did not give up hope. Jacob used a superstitious practice involving having the animals breed in front of striped branches. It seemed to work. Jacob grew exceedingly prosperous. He had large flocks, and became wealthy with many servants, camels and donkeys.

Modern science has proven that Jacob’s superstitious practice does not work. Science cannot account for the increase in the animals with the rare markings. When modern science cannot explain, look for the hand of God.