Laban We're all selfish, but some of us have a real corner on the weakness. Laban's
whole life was stamped by self-centeredness. His chief goal was to look out for
himself. The way he treated others was controlled by that goal. He made
profitable arrangements for his sister Rebekah's marriage to Isaac and used his
daughters' lives as bargaining chips. Jacob eventually outmaneuvered Laban, but
the older man was unwilling to admit defeat. His hold on Jacob was broken, but
he still tried to maintain some kind of control by getting Jacob to promise to
be gone for good. He realized that Jacob and Jacob's God were more than he could
handle. <>< <>< ><> ><> * Controlled two generations of marriages in the Abrahamic family (Rebekah,
Rachel, Leah)
* Manipulated others for his own benefit <>< <>< ><> ><> * Those who set out to use people will eventually find themselves used Vital statistics: Key verse: • Where: Haran • Occupation: Wealthy sheep breeder • Relatives: Father: Bethuel. Sister: Rebekah. Brother-in-law: Isaac. Daughters: Rachel and Leah. Son-in-law: Jacob "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" (Genesis 31:42). Laban's story is told in Genesis 24:1—31:55. |