Genesis 31

Day 24

Genesis 31

Genesis 31:38-40
³⁸ “I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. ³⁹ I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. ⁴⁰ This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. ⁴¹ It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. ⁴² If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.”

Ever feel like you got taken advantage of?  Jacob had just left town because his mom was worried his brother Esau was going to kill her son…  Jacob goes back to his mom’s stomping grounds and meets Rachel daughter of Laban and fell madly in love…  Jacob had been working for Laban, when he offered to pay Jacob for his labor.  Jacob decided to ask Laban for the hand of his youngest daughter for his payment.  They struck an agreement and Jacob promised Laban to work seven years for the hand of his youngest daughter Rachel.  7 years is a long time to be engage to marry and Jacob became very anxious.

Genesis 29:21
²¹ Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”

The ole switcheroo
Jacob got some of his own medicine when Laban pulled one over on him.  He gave Jacob Leah, his oldest (not so good looking daughter.)   Then when Jacob realized he’d been duped, Laban suckered into working 7 more years for Rachel’s hand…  He worked a total of 21 years for Laban and during that time Laban lowered Jacob’s wages 10 times.  To say the very least Laban squeezed every drop of sweat out of Jacob for the lowest wage!

The bible is the ultimate authority on ALL relationships; including employee – employer. 

Colossians 4:1
¹ And employers, treat your employees considerately. Be fair with them. Don't forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master—God in heaven.

Colossians 3:22-24
²² Employees obey your earthly bosses in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Remember whether you’re an employee or an employer, we are all working for a higher power!