Laban’s story is told in Genesis 24-31
Laban: The Man Who Tried to Control God’s Plan
Have you ever tried to control everything around you—only to realize things didn’t go the way you planned? That sounds a lot like Laban, a man from the Old Testament who thought he could stay in control, but learned that God always has the final say.
Let’s explore who Laban was and what we can learn from his story.
Who Was Laban?
Laban appears in the Book of Genesis. He was the brother of Rebekah (Isaac’s wife) and the uncle of Jacob. He lived in a place called Haran.
When Jacob ran away from home to escape his brother Esau, he went to stay with Laban. At first, Laban seemed kind and helpful—but over time, his true colors showed. He was smart, but also tricky. He often put his own gain above doing what was right.
Laban and Jacob: A Complicated Relationship
When Jacob arrived at Laban’s home, he fell in love with Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel. Jacob offered to work for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. Laban agreed.
But on the wedding day, Laban tricked Jacob by giving him Leah, his older daughter, instead of Rachel. When Jacob found out, he was shocked! Laban said Rachel couldn’t marry before her sister. So Jacob had to work another seven years to marry Rachel too.
Even after that, Laban kept changing Jacob’s wages and tried to keep him around because he saw that God was blessing Jacob. Laban wanted to benefit from Jacob’s success without being fair to him.
Lesson: Trying to take advantage of others may bring short-term gain, but it damages trust and relationships.
God Blessed Jacob Anyway
Even though Laban tried to control things, God kept blessing Jacob. Jacob became wealthy with many animals and a growing family. Eventually, God told Jacob it was time to go back home.
Jacob quietly gathered his family and belongings and left. When Laban found out, he chased after them. But God warned Laban in a dream not to harm Jacob.
Instead of a fight, they made peace. Laban and Jacob agreed to go their separate ways, and Laban returned home.
Lesson: God’s plan moves forward—even when others try to stop it. No one can block what God has decided.
What We Can Learn from Laban’s Life
Laban’s story may seem like just an old tale, but it speaks to our lives today. Here are a few key lessons:
- You can’t control everything – Laban tried to manage people and outcomes, but it didn’t work in the long run.
- Selfish choices have consequences – His trickery cost him relationships, especially with Jacob.
- God protects His people – God looked out for Jacob, even when others tried to take advantage of him.
- Let go and trust God – Instead of holding tightly to our plans, we can trust that God’s way is better.
Final Thoughts
Laban thought he could stay in charge of every situation. But in the end, he had to let go and accept that God’s plan was bigger than his own. His story reminds us that being clever isn’t enough—we need to be honest, humble, and trust in God’s direction.
Reflection question:
Are there areas in your life where you’re trying to stay in control? What would it look like to let go and trust God instead?