Isn't it amazing how people will scheme and work to get their way. I recently read Genesis 31; the story of Laban and Jacob just before Jacobs departure back to the land of Canaan and home. Leading up to this point it's amazing to see that even though Laban swindles and lies God continues to bless Jacob and multiply his fortunes. Laban's attitude towards Jacob was nothing new if you remember how he tricked Jacob into marrying both of his daughters, Leah the first born, and Rachel the woman Jacob really loved. But now the situation grows progressively worse and God tells Jacob to hit the road and go home.
Jacob was a swindler too, and he was not ignorant of all Laban's schemes, but what impressed me about Jacob is that eventually he learns to trust God saying, "But God did not permit him to harm me (Gen 31:7)." In spite of all the scheming going on God's plan goes forward. Laban tricked Jacob, changing his wages and trying to steal his sheep. Jacob tricked Laban, lying and then fleeing with his flocks and family. Rachel tricked Laban and Jacob, stealing the household gods, then hiding them beneath her skirt. Yet God's purpose goes forward.
The last thing I saw in this story was the erection of the witness stones. Jacob and Laban agreed to go their separate ways and not harm one another. "I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm (v52)." It is good to set boundaries that we will not pass over to do harm; to ourselves or others. Laban went back. Jacob went forward. Both were happy with the split.
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