Deception doesn’t pays off; it is not a short cut to a destination! The roles had reversed for Jacob. The deceiver was now the recipient of his uncle’s deception. Ultimately what one has to pay for the deception is much more costly than if the person had done it right in the first place.
Jacob made an agreement with Laban to work for seven years to marry his younger daughter Rachel. Instead, his uncle tricked him by sending Leah, his older daughter, in place of Rachel. Consequently, Jacob had to work for seven more years to finally marry Rachel. Thus, the deceiver became deceived!
Sometimes people think they can get away with deceit, but no one can escape the hands of the Lord because He cannot be mocked. He sees all things and allows unexpected circumstances and people to come into the life of a believer to help him or her see himself/herself in the mirror. Those are excellent teaching tools to help a person change and stop deceiving others.
Then the angel of God spoke to Jacob in a dream and told him, “I have seen all that Laban is doing to you” (Genesis 31:12b). This time, God saw Jacob as the victim and Laban as the deceiver, so He allowed Jacob to be blessed with better and stronger livestock. Jacob was maturing; he was cooperating with God’s plan, and God blessed him by allowing him to become rich.
“I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family” (Genesis 31:13).
Jacob finally learned his lessons, so God told him it’s time to go back to his family and restore relationships. Jacob agreed to go; he was willing to mend relationships with his brother and even give him good gifts as a small restitution for what he had taken from Esau.
What are your tendencies that have had consequences in your life? Has this caused you to repent and move away from those patterns and behaviors? Is there tangible evidence of change and growth in your life that those closest to you can notice? Do you handle situations differently than before?