Laban was concerned that this God who was unknown to him would stop blessing him after Jacob left. He counters with a negotiation.
Laban says to Jacob, “Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.” Jacob seems to ignore Laban’s request for a fee and goes on to describe how he had made Laban wealthy. This is a well-known negotiation tactic. One takes the lead and affirms their benefits to this deal in order to broker the best arrangement. Jacob was in a great position to get a good deal from Laban. So Laban listens to this negotiation tactic and says “what do you want then?” Jacob says that he does not want anything. What he meant was anything in advance. He wanted an opportunity. He needed the opportunity to provide some material accumulation. Up to now he only received room and board for all his efforts and Laban became wealthy as a result. Jacob said that he would continue to keep Laban’s flocks. In addition he asks Laban to give him a certain type of animals from his flock while he took care of them. There were three categories he asked for:
1. Every speckled one (generalizing the characteristics)
2. Every black one among the sheep
3. Every spotted and speckled among the goats
Jacob made a bonafide fair offer and Laban was trying to prevent Jacob from being successful. This is the second time Laban has successfully deceived Jacob. However, Jacob succeeds in outwitting Laban in the course of the next six years.
We have to view the increase as God given which today is called selective breeding. It originated with Jacob and clearly was a blessing in knowledge as part of the Covenant. In the face of adversity with Laban God is going to prosper Jacob as He promised.
