Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 30:25-43.
“25 Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you.” 27 But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.” 28 He continued, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” 29 But he said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?” 31 So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock: 32 let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages. 33 So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen.” 34 Laban said, “Good, let it be according to your word.” 35 So he removed on that day the striped and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, every one with white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons. 36 And he put a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
37 Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white which was in the rods. 38 He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the gutters, even in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink; and they mated when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40 Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban; and he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41 Moreover, whenever the stronger of the flock were mating, Jacob would place the rods in the sight of the flock in the gutters, so that they might mate by the rods; 42 but when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. 43 So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys.” Genesis 30:25-43.
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Wisdom is a gift of God. Wisdom is a blessing. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5.
And, we can see and appreciate the wisdom that Jacob showed in today’s Scripture. Hopefully, that wisdom (and the prosperity which wisdom brought to Jacob) will motivate us to seek wisdom, to ask for wisdom from God with faith, and to learn and understand principles of wisdom taught in Scripture.
First, we see the wisdom of Jacob in his answer to Laban in verses 29 and 30, and then after Laban’s persistence, Jacob showed wisdom again in verses 31 through 33. Jacob could have just abruptly said: “No.” to Laban. But, Jacob was wise in giving a soft, soothing, and reasonable answer to Laban.
“1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:1-4.
Second, we see Jacob’s wisdom in his ability to understand the science of mating and to increase productivity and his wealth.
The Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom and the benefits of wisdom. Here are examples.
“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,” Proverbs 1:5.
“6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.” Proverbs 2:6-9.
“13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.” Proverbs 3:13-16.
“19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.” Proverbs 3:19-23.
“12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
14 “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
15 “By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16 “By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.” Proverbs 8:12-16.
“4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.” Proverbs 10:4-5.
“Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.” Proverbs 13:16.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20.
“3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:3-4.
“He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29.
“A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.” Proverbs 14:6.
“The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.” Proverbs 14:35.
“The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.” Proverbs 16:23.
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1.
“A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.” Proverbs 20:5.
“Prepare plans by consultation,
And make war by wise guidance.” Proverbs 20:18.
“There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man swallows it up.'” Proverbs 21:20.
“3 By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4.
“Prepare your work outside
And make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterwards, then, build your house.” Proverbs 24:27.
“He who tills his land will have plenty of food,
But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.” Proverbs 28:19.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 