Everybody, what is going on? You know what time it is. You're listening to join the Journey podcast with your host, Emma, daughter.

Thanks for joining. Today, we're specifically in Genesis 31 versus 22 through 55. But we're just going to do a recap of Jacob's relationship with Laban and examine what we can specifically learn from

Laban at the end of today's reading assignment. So backing up a whole lot, Jacob deceives his father

and takes off, ends up with four wives, but he really only loves Rachel, and the only thing,

or really only person, that humbles Jacob is Laban. So to set the scene for us today, you rewind to Genesis 30.

Rachel finally has a kid and Jacob's ready to leave.

So he asks Uncle Laban if they can finally part ways,

and Jacob can go live his own life or this family, if you will.

It's kind of a leave and cleave request.

And Laban acknowledges that he's received a lot of blessing from God due to Jacob's presence in his life, which is funny

because Laban literally made Jacob work for him for a gazillion years, so it's kind of an obvious.

But Jacob puts it like this, Genesis 30, verse 30. You had little indeed before I came, but your

wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I've done. But now,

what about me? When can I start providing for my own family? So in response, Laban asks Jacob what he

wants. And Jacob's like, hey, let me make you a deal.

I will take all of your black and speckled and spotted sheep.

That way, in the future, you'll be able to tell if I was honest,

because if I have any sheep that aren't blemished, you'll know I stole from you.

But then, and Laban's like, yeah, that's a great deal.

But then he deceives Jacob and he hides all the sheep that meet those qualifications, making it really difficult for Jacob

to acquire sheep that meet this description as he's caring for them. Initially, I thought Jacob put these

streaked branches in the troughs so that any sheep who were born would get dirty,

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