Jacob wanted to return to his homeland. As a servant laborer, he had to be granted that freedom, especially regarding his wife and children going with him (26). But Laban, seeing how his family was blessed through Jacob, wants to keep him, and offers him wages (27-28).

Jacob doesn’t want gifts from Laban that will keep him in Harran. Instead, he suggests his portion be the speckled and spotted sheep among the flock he is currently shepherding. Laban agrees, but then tries to undermine the deal by giving the speckled and spotted ones to his own sons (34-36). Laban seems to have outwitted Jacob again.

Jacob was in a hard spot. But he did not give up. Like his father Isaac planting crops in a famine (26:12) and digging wells in enemy territory (26:18), Jacob tried a folklore remedy to convince the flocks to produce speckled and spotted offspring (37-39). His ridiculous scheme was not only successful, but left Laban with weak animals while Jacob became exceedingly prosperous, like his father (26:14) and grandfather before him (12:16). Later he would realize this was God’s care for him (31:42).
Application: Father, sometimes I feel trapped and don’t know what to do. Help me remember you are with me, not give up, and work by faith not by sight.
One Word: True wealth comes from God