Any relationship based on personal gain or selfish expectations will always be strained. Laban abused Jacob. Jacob, in a way, stole everything from Laban. Yet, because God had chosen Jacob and honored His covenant promise to Abraham, He protected Jacob from Laban. Jacob and Laban covenanted to create a border each one would not cross to harm the other. The ebenezer that marked the covenant was called Gilead and Mizpah.

So, after 20 years under Laban, Jacob amassed the riches and conceived the children which were born that would constitute national Israel. Even though the intentions of his heart were selfish, God is working all things together to fulfill the covenant of redemption, His promise to Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob—which will ultimately be fulfilled in the advent of the Christ.

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