The Decision to Leave Padanaram

Genesis 31:1-18

Laban had agreed to let Jacob have the off color cattle in the belief that by separating the herds, there would be very few. He was trying to take advantage of Jacobhoping to get a lot of work for very little pay. It wasn’t long before he and his sons began to resent every animal that Jacob got, although their herd was growing acceptably. Most dishonest people assume others are just like they are and when their efforts to cheat are unsuccessful, they assume the intended victim is cheating them and get very angry. It seems to be okay for them to cheat you, but not for you to cheat them.

“And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory. And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.” (Genesis 31:1-3)

Though it was what Laban had agreed to, Laban’s sons began to feel that Jacob’s cattle rightfully belonged to them. There began to be jealousy and tensions between Jacob and the rest of the family, making it uncomfortable to stay. Jacob probably began to wish he’d left when Joseph was born as he’d originally planned. God usually speaks with a still small voice and only those who are listening hear him. Jacob was hearing the money he thought he’d make and ignored God’s voice, until things got unpleasant enough to get his attention.

“And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstreaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstreaked. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.” (Genesis 31:4-9)

Jacob wisely got his wives together and explained what was going on. Laban had been trying to cheat Jacob ever since he had substituted Leah for Rachael twenty years before, although Jacob was considerate enough not to upset Leah by bringing it up. Like many modern employers, when Jacob began to make fairly good wages, Laban changed the reward program in an effort to keep more for himself. Laban had even gone so far as to limit Jacob’s pay to those of a certain patterns in an effort to limit his profit, but God had continued to provide for Jacob, causing the cattle to have a predominance of the color that were to be Jacob’s. God also revealed that Jacob’s attempts to influence what color calves and lambs they would have had accomplished nothing.

“And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstreaked, speckled, and grisled. And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstreaked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.” (Genesis 31:10-13)

Though a particular color or pattern might predominate. Labans cows were still mixed stock, carrying genes for more than one color or pattern. From Mendel’s Laws, we know that over time the ratios of one color to another should remain about the same, except that selective breeding can eventually isolate a particular trait, although at times one color or another might be most common. God simply caused the color Laban designated to Jacob to be most common that year. Under mendel’s laws, if one color dominated one year, a different one was likely to be predominant the next. Had Laban kept the agreement the same, over time the laws of genetics would have ensured that most of the cattle would be his, but by changing them he increased his risk, and at the same time antagonized God.

Twenty seven years after the saw the vision at Bethel and promised God that if he’d take care of him and bring him back safely, he’d let God be his God, god reminds him of that promise and tells him to go back where he belongs. God never forgets his promises, or ours.

“And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.” (Genesis 31:14-16)

Rachael and Leah had been aware of the deteriorating relationship with their family, and knew they were not really welcome anymore, The original intent of the dowry had been to provide a fund for the wife so if something happened to her husband she wold have some thing to live on. Her parents were responsible to see that the money was available should it ever happen. Today, the dowry is usually treated as payment to the parents for raising the girl, and is treated as income, rather than being held in trust for her. Under the old Testament law, if a man had sex with a woman he was to endow her as his wife, even if she was underage and her parents refused to let her live with him as his wife according to exodus 22:16.


Jacob had produced a great deal by working for seven years for each of the girls, but Laban had spent the money instead of saving it for them, so there was nothing for them to look forward to if they stayed. If God wanted them to leave, they were willing to go. That they were willing to leave was a confirmation that God was leading, so Jacob packed up and left, without telling anyone he was leaving.

“Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.” (Genesis 31:17-18)