When Jerod Green came to our home to ask for our daughter Casey’s hand in marriage, my wife told me I had to be nice to him. “Why?” I asked with a grin. “Because my dad was nice to you.” Good point.
Laban needed a wife like Melanie. On more than one occasion he took advantage of his son-in-law Jacob. How then did Jacob succeed? When Rachel and Leah joined him in the fields, Jacob offered a theological explanation for their need to move on from Laban. In order, he explained, “But God . . . However, God . . . So God . . .”
Laban changed Jacob’s wages, cheating him ten times. When that did not work, Laban changed his countenance toward Jacob. But God was always with Jacob. Nor did he allow Laban to cause him harm. Over time, God took Laban’s livestock and gave them to Jacob.
If you feel like you have been mistreated by a relative, neighbor, or coworker, remember this true word from Plutarch: “The wheels of justice turn slowly, but they grind exceeding fine.” As Paul put it, “God is not mocked” (Galatians 6:7). Also, if we are in a position of power, we are responsible to God for our actions. We should be kind to others. Why? Our Father has been so kind to us.
