01-79 The Lord, Not Luck

Genesis 30:25-43

Signs believed to bring good luck

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 6274 Lucky and Unlucky Signs

6274 Lucky And Unlucky Signs

The following signs are supposed to herald good luck: horseshoes, toadstools, piglets, four-leafed clovers, lady-birds, forget-me-nots, mistletoes at Christmas, a cobweb in the room, yew trees, money spiders, a spring of heather, two shooting stars in one night and so on. There are also proverbs like, “See a pin and pick it up, all the day you will have good luck”, and, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”—to bring the bride luck.

Unlucky signs include: a hunchback or an old woman crossing one’s path in the early morning, crossing arms when shaking hands, burning green twigs in the garden, losing one’s wedding ring, two spoons in a saucer, rocking an empty cradle, seeing a magpie, spilling salt, crossing one’s knife and fork, the ace of spades and the four of clubs, a string of pearls, etc. It is also supposed to be unlucky to meet a funeral procession on one’s wedding day, to let one’s washing boil over, to give away something pointed, to have a parson on board ship, to open an umbrella in the house and so on.

Superstition definition: (to stand over)

a: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation

b: an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition

Superstition is really a “dread of the supernatural, excessive fear of the gods, religious belief based on fear or ignorance and considered incompatible with truth or reason.” For this reason it is “a standing over” or standing stiff or stunned in awe. While we might chuckle a bit at the lengths people will go to bring “good luck, fortune” and to fend of the bad, we are likely guilty of it to some degree.

Have you ever “knocked on wood”? Worn the same articles of clothing without washing (sports) or not shaving? Crossing your fingers? Friday the 13th? $6.66 appears on the cash register? Bride not seeing the groom before the wedding?

Let’s say you forgot to read your Bible one day—do you think that maybe you’ll encounter something bad?

In the wisdom of Michael Scott, believers might not be superstitious but we are a little “stitious.” In Genesis we have seen God’s people resorting to a belief or trust in chance—and equating good and prosperity to it. That was true in the battling sisters who were trying to gain favor with Jacob—both Leah and Rachel thought mandrakes would aid in their fertility. In our present passage, Jacob resorts to a very unusual act as he mated Laban’s flocks. Though Jacob had attributed his prosperity to the blessing of God, he acted at times as though there was something superstitious about life. I think we might find ourselves in similar ways as believers. Our challenge would be to put our full trust in the sovereign providence of the Lord and to put no confidence in luck/chance.

Let’s walk thru our vv together, noting 6 particulars of this passage:

1. Jacob’s Request

25-26

Jacob has been 14 years in Haran. He spent 7 years serving Laban to marry Rachel—and she was substituted by her sister Leah. There was a wedding feast lasting 1 week and after Jacob realized he had been deceived, he still desired to take the woman he loved as his bride. It appears that Jacob married Rachel after the 1 week wedding feast of Leah. Jacob would work 7 more years for the additional daughter of Laban. During those years (within this polygamous marriage), 11 sons were born to Jacob thru 4 women (plus maids) in what was a household filled with strife, jealousy, bitterness and envy. The last of his sons to be born at this time was Joseph. This is where Moses continues the narrative in vs 25.

Jacob’s commitment, service is complete and he requests his release from his father-in-law. “Send me away” was indeed a request. He did not inform Laban that he was going but is seeking permission. This is the language of a servant asking to be dismissed from his duty.

Jacob’s goal was always to return home. He came to Haran to escape the wrath of his brother Esau and to find a wife from among the relatives of his mother-Rebekah. He’s been away for 14 years and now that his journey has been successful he intends to go back home (my own place..).

Jacob also adds a demand to his request to leave— “give me my wives…” I think Jacob suspected that Laban would sent him away without anything if he could. There must have been quite some tension in this home during those next 7 years (and what would turn out to be an additional 6 years). Jacob had a right to be suspicious:

Genesis 31:42 (NASB95)

42 “If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed.”

Laban’s attitude:

Genesis 31:43 (NASB95)

43 Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine.”

Jacob is ready to take what is his and head back home but he will meet with some resistance.

2. Laban’s Protest

27-28

Culturally, it was Laban who “holds the cards” and Jacob understood this (the reason for the request). But Laban is motivated financially to keep Jacob and his family nearby. He appeals to Jacob as though he is addressing a superior “if now it pleases you” (lit “if I have found favor in your eyes). Laban will do and say whatever it takes to protect his bottom line. He makes this point by what he says next “I have divined…”

Commentaries are all over the place b/c of this word “divined.” Even our Eng translations don’t really know how to handle this. “interpreted an omen” “learned by divination” “learned by experience”

The Heb (נחשׁ) means “to seek and give omens, foretell.” Divination has been explained as: The practice of attempting to manipulate or interpret the environment through mystical or spiritual means. This also includes attempts to gain information about the world through mystical or spiritual means. Doesn’t that sound like superstition? Later the Law would expressly forbid this activity:

Deuteronomy 18:10–11 NASB95

10 “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.

This is the way the devil works. God wanted His people to stay so far away from the pagan practices of the nations around them that He adds:

Deuteronomy 18:12–13 NASB95

12 “For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. 13 “You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.

What is remarkable is that Laban uses “divination” (exactly what he did is not explained) to understand and even confess that YHWH is the reason he has been abundantly blessed on account of Jacob. Bringing YHWH and divination together makes some very uncomfortable that they want to save the Bible from anything remotely negative. I don’t think we need to save the Bible from bad PR. Remember, the book of Genesis is about beginnings. One of the beginnings addressed in Genesis is how some have attempted to learn about the supernatural realm apart from God’s revelation. Satan has been quick to enter that arena for the sake of carrying out his deception (which is why God later forbids its use).

Joseph speaks of his ability to use divination (Gen 44:15). Von Rad: “This is one of the strangest confessions of Yahweh and his blessing in the Old Testament, a confession which even a Laban had arrived at by the dark process of his superstition!”

Laban was correct that he was blessed b/c it was the Lord on account of Jacob. This is why he wants Jacob to stay with him and not go back to his own country.

So he says “name your wages” (28).

3. Jacob’s Response

29-30

Jacob has a goal in mind and its clear that his goal and Laban’s goal are at odds. Laban wants Jacob to continue b/c he knows the benefit it is to him personally. Jacob’s goal, on the other hand, is looking to the welfare of his own family. So he responds (vs 29) “you yourself…” Jacob is emphatic when he asserts that Laban knew that he had fulfilled his commitment to service—14 years. That was his obligation that he put himself under. And his service was of great benefit to Laban, his home and his herds. Laban’s cattle “fared” well. Jacob says lit. “you know what has become of your cattle,” appealing to what Laban could not ignore.

Jacob is going to make 3 points in vs 30:

First, Laban did accumulate great wealth under Jacob’s tenure. Now, whether there was exaggeration in the “little” Laban had before is not the point—but a comparison to what has happened in those 14 years. The term increase will be used of Jacob in vs 43 and means “to break thru” and was used of a breech in the city wall of Jerusalem. The idea was that Laban’s wealth had become so great that it “burst forth” because of its excess. It would be like adding dollars to a wallet, eventually the wallet is going to burst b/c it can’t hold any more. On the large scale, that was Laban’s increase.

Second, The Lord has blessed you…Laban, whatever the means of divination, had a correct theological understanding that he, his home/family/flocks were blessed by YHWH. That happened wherever Jacob took the herds—there was prosperity.

This brings an important point of application that God is the giver of prosperity. If you have prospered, it is God who brings that to pass. You cannot attribute it to luck, good fortune, even your own efforts—God causes the increase.

Third, Jacob insists that he deserves the opportunity to secure the future of his own family telling Laban that it is now his turn. Jacob knows that he is responsible to provide for his household and now it is time that he do so.

4. Jacob’s Proposal

31-33

Laban asked “what shall I give you?” to which Jacob makes this proposal (obviously he has thought about this). He doesn’t want any wages. He will not be subservient to Laban as he was for 14 years. Jacob does have a plan and he assures Laban that if he would do 1 thing he would continue to “pasture and keep your flock.” Since the vision of the ladder, Jacob has been assured that God would be with him, would provide for him and keep him on this prolonged journey. Jacob would trust the Lord to make provision, to bring any increase that would be a benefit to his family.

Notice that particulars of his proposal: 32-33.

This was a great deal for Laban—and on the surface, a horrible deal for Jacob. Normally shepherds contracted to shepherd for 10 to 20 percent of the flock as payment as well as a percentage of the wool and milk products. But this deal was much different (and Laban thought he couldn’t lose).

The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50 5. Jacob’s Possessions Multiply (30:25–43)

In the Mediterranean world the sheep are normally white and the goats black. Thus Jacob is requesting the irregular, abnormal parts of Laban’s flock.

The striped and spotted goats (male and female) and black sheep were quite rare so Jacob offered to remove the few multicolored sheep from Laban’s flock as his compensation and then shepherd the plain colored animals for Laban. When they bred, the common, plain-colored would remain Laban’s, and the rare variegated Jacob’s. The only goats and sheep that would remain under Jacob’s care would be the regular, common black goats and white sheep. Now, the proposal is that once these uncommon-speckled spotted animals were removed (very few of them), Jacob would have no animals designated for him and he could only rely on future births of black sheep and variegated goats (presumably also very rare).

Ironically, Jacob will appeal to his “honesty” (lit righteousness) (kind of makes you chuckle) when he tells Laban, “you can even inspect the flock and if you find among my flock any that are not speckled or spotted then you will know that I stole them. Jacob is swearing that he will treat Laban uprightly in this whole deal.

Here too is application, your word is your bond. Yes, today we live in an age where contracts are signed left and right. But the believer’s word should be inviolable. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:37 NASB95

37 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

If the world can’t count on you to keep your word, then what becomes of your testimony of the gospel? What becomes of your claim that the truth has transformed your life? Jacob told Laban—you can count on my honesty.

5. Laban’s Reaction

34-36

“good” (34). It was good for Laban. I’m guessing Laban walked away with a grin on his face. The world then had a remarkable understanding of genetics. Laban recognized that if he removed all the uncommon, irregular animals that were spotted and all the black sheep from the herd, the odds of animals being born that were irregular was extremely low. So this is what he does. Laban removes—vs 35, putting them under the care of his sons. And to make sure that Jacob’s plans of accumulating a great herd of his own from those born, Laban puts a buffer zone of 3 days b/t himself and Jacob—guaranteeing that there would be no way for the regular, monochrome animals to mate with the irregular.

Laban believes he has the upper hand and that it will cost him little to nothing—so he agrees to Jacob’s proposal.

6. Jacob’s Prosperity

37-43

Now, Jacob is an experienced herdman and he figured he rely a little bit on superstition and some common sense. This is what Jacob did: vs 37-38

This is where commentators have taken different approaches on Jacob’s breeding methods.

Genesis 12–50 Jacob’s Breeding Methods

Hamilton (1995, 283–284) asserts that Jacob’s breeding methods display his ingenuity and knowledge of zoology (and God’s favor; Gen 31:10–12), though he perhaps wanted Laban to think that sympathetic magic produced the results. He explains that, according to laws of heredity, crossing animals with the gene of spottedness would produce 25 percent spotted sheep.

Genesis 12–50 (Jacob’s Breeding Methods)

Hebrew scholars Keil and Delitzsch (1996, 1.188) say Jacob’s techniques were based on a “fact frequently noticed” that whatever animals fixed their eyes on during copulation marked their offspring. They suggest that he only employed this method during the summer breeding, since the ancients believed that these animals were stronger than the offspring of the fall breeding.

Genesis 12–50 Jacob’s Breeding Methods

Sarna (1989, 212) explains how Jacob’s methods follow scientific techniques of interbreeding, though Jacob acknowledged God as the source of his information. In combination with these techniques, he was able to advance the mating season, possibly due to the medicinal value of the plants he placed in the drinking troughs. The folkloristic peeling of the branches was just part of an “elaborate display … to mask his secret technique.”

Now, Jacob was successful in his breeding of spotted & speckled animals—vs 39. Then he began the process of separating his flock from Laban’s and he capitalized on the mating seasons where the strong and the weak would mate corresponding to his and Laban’s flock.

Be Authentic 3. Vocation: Establishing Your Livelihood (Gen. 30:25–43)

Jacob’s peeled sticks belonged in the same category as Rachel’s mandrakes: They were both superstitious practices that had nothing to do with what actually happened. It was God who controlled the genetic structure of the animals and multiplied the spotted and striped sheep and goats, thus increasing Jacob’s wealth very quickly. At Bethel, God promised to bless Jacob, and He kept His promise (28:13–15); and since Laban had agreed to Jacob’s terms, he could do nothing about the results. All of those animals belonged to Jacob.

During the next six years, Jacob became a very wealthy man because of his faith and the blessing of the Lord.

vs 43—”exceedingly prosperous, large flocks, servants, camels and donkeys. Jacob, in just a few short years has prospered and out-earned Laban in a mighty way.

We should learn a valuable lesson that the Lord causes the increase. We must not attribute it to luck, fortune, superstition, or the like. God providentially allowed Jacob’s genetic-research project to work.

God promised Jacob a people (fulfilled—11/12 sons), prosperity (fulfilled vs 43), and a place (that’s coming next). And Jacob will acknowledge that God has blessed but there’s something strange about mixing superstition and Xn faith. It essentially robs God of the glory He deserves. Stevie Wonder had it right: “superstition ain’t the way.”

3 Points of application:

Do not let money/wealth become an idol (1 Tim 6:10)

Work hard for your employer

Trust God for prosperity