Haran: School of Hard Knocks

Song: Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims

Scripture: Genesis 29:1-35

Jacob, at age 77, came to his uncle Laban’s house in Haran to escape from Esau and to find a wife. Laban’s deception of Jacob is a compelling lesson on “be sure your sins will find you out.”

The deceiver was deceived. Jacob deceived his father and so inherited the same. His mother, Rebekah, encouraged him in the lie. The irony is that she sent him to Laban to save him from Esau. But she actually sent him to the lion’s den because her brother, Laban, was every bit as cunning as she.

The “blind” led the blind. Jacob used Isaac’s blindness to steal Esau’s blessing. Under the cloak of darkness Laban too gave Leah instead of Rachel to Jacob. One wonders if Leah even wore Rachel’s garb and kept quiet so as not to spoil the deception.

The supplanter was supplanted. Jacob, the younger, had stolen the blessing of Esau, the older. But with Leah, the older supplanted the younger. The privilege of the firstborn was denied Esau by deception, but the same right was assured Leah by a similar deception.

The unmerciful was shown no mercy. Jacob had taken advantage of Esau’s recklessness. He had no compassion for weakness. Laban likewise took advantage of Jacob’s love for Rachel.

God used Laban’s treachery to teach Jacob humility and to teach us not to despise the Lord’s chastening, nor to take it lightly. To Jacob’s credit he learned. Let us learn too.

Jason Moore