In Genesis 31:24, God told Laban to be careful not to say anything to Jacob whether good or bad. Later on Laban speaks to Jacob that same chapter. I am wondering if I misunderstood or something because it does not seem like Laban obeyed God to not say anything good or bad to Jacob. Have I missed something somewhere here?
God spoke, Laban disobeyed?
- Thread starter CherieR
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The Hebrew word for speak here is dabar which is from a primitive root meaning "properly to arrange." So, we can conclude that God warned Laban not to afflict any good or bad on Jacob. Sometimes these things get jumbled in translation. Laban obviously heeded God's warning as he let them go their way. 
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My current understanding is that Laban was basically disobedient to what God said, doing what he wanted despite what God said....trying to thread the needle between what he wanted and what God said....(Kind of like King Saul's handling of the commandment to destroy the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15) Laban thought he could remain neutral (which he didn't) but at least didn't go so far as to physically harm Jacob.
Another example is how Laban only partially followed Jacob's suggestion concerning the removal of the ringstraked and grisled sheep, even though he spoke as if he agreed wholeheartedly. Laban SAID "Would God it were so" but in PRACTICE disregarded what Jacob said ("I [Jacob] will pass through your flock, removing the...").
Genesis 30:32 KJV
I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. <--that's what Jacob said (notice who Jacob said should do the separating)
Genesis 30:34 KJV
And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word. <--That's what Laban SAID.
Genesis 30:35-36 KJV
And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. <--That's what Laban DID
[36] And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. <--That's how you know it was Laban that did the separating, not Jacob. The "he" was in reference to Laban, not Jacob in verses 35&36. Verse 36 only makes sense if the "he" is Laban. Laban liked the part of getting rid of the discolored, but disregarded the part where Jacob was supposed to do the sorting.
Moreover, I think Laban also employed his pick-and-choose style of obedience while separating the discolored from the pure, (leaving the strongest males in his own flock). Otherwise, how would the rams that leaped on the cattle be ringstraked, speckled and grisled?
Genesis 31:9-12 KJV
Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.[12] And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. [11] And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. [12] And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
If I'm not mistaken, God used Laban's refusal to be fully obedient as the very method to transfer of the flock to Jacob. If Laban would have transferred ALL the discolored, there wouldn't have been any left to impregnate the females. (God is slick)
Love in Jesus,
Kelby
BTW, I'm not so smart as to have figured that out. God was nice enough to point it out .
Another example is how Laban only partially followed Jacob's suggestion concerning the removal of the ringstraked and grisled sheep, even though he spoke as if he agreed wholeheartedly. Laban SAID "Would God it were so" but in PRACTICE disregarded what Jacob said ("I [Jacob] will pass through your flock, removing the...").
Genesis 30:32 KJV
I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire. <--that's what Jacob said (notice who Jacob said should do the separating)
Genesis 30:34 KJV
And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word. <--That's what Laban SAID.
Genesis 30:35-36 KJV
And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. <--That's what Laban DID
[36] And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. <--That's how you know it was Laban that did the separating, not Jacob. The "he" was in reference to Laban, not Jacob in verses 35&36. Verse 36 only makes sense if the "he" is Laban. Laban liked the part of getting rid of the discolored, but disregarded the part where Jacob was supposed to do the sorting.
Moreover, I think Laban also employed his pick-and-choose style of obedience while separating the discolored from the pure, (leaving the strongest males in his own flock). Otherwise, how would the rams that leaped on the cattle be ringstraked, speckled and grisled?
Genesis 31:9-12 KJV
Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.[12] And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. [11] And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. [12] And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
If I'm not mistaken, God used Laban's refusal to be fully obedient as the very method to transfer of the flock to Jacob. If Laban would have transferred ALL the discolored, there wouldn't have been any left to impregnate the females.
(God is slick)Love in Jesus,
Kelby
BTW, I'm not so smart as to have figured that out. God was nice enough to point it out .