“yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me” (Genesis 31:7).

In Genesis 31, Jacob decided to leave his father in law Laban and return to live with his family in Canaan. In preparation for his journey, he spoke to his wives who were daughters of Laban. Jacob recounted his experience of working with Laban who was a crafty man. Laban had changed Jacob’s wages several times and made him work double the number of years to marry his daughter Rachel.

Jacob initially fell in love with Rachel and Laban agreed to allow him to marry her after seven years of labour. On the day of their wedding, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah who was Rachel’s older sister. Once Jacob found out, Laban made him work another seven years in order to marry Rachel. Because of his love for Rachel, Jacob worked an additional seven years. He also continued to work with Laban after his marriage to Rachel and agreed to be paid with the lambs that were born speckled or spotted (Genesis 29:1-30;30:25-42).

God blessed Jacob and caused him to increase. Laban continued in his craftiness and when he saw that Jacob was increasing, he would change the agreement regarding his wages. “If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped” (Genesis 31:8). No matter what strategies Laban used, God caused Jacob to increase because he walked in the blessing of Abraham.

You are blessed of the Lord and you walk in favour. The favour of the Lord acts as a shield around you so that no one will be able to prevail against you. You are blessed and the circumstances around you cannot dictate your level of blessings.

“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field”(Deuteronomy 28:3).

A.P.-Y.

Published by Anneta Pinto-Young

I am a trained Social Worker who currently provides professional leadership on a programme to support Social Work students and Newly Qualified Social Workers entering the Social Work Profession. Born and raised in Jamaica in a Christian family where my father is an ordained Pastor and Deacon who has served for over 50 years in the ministry. My father is also a trained musician and our family can be described as a musical family. I grew up in a small farming community in St. Peter’s, St. Andrew and my parents also have a small farm. I credit my gift of writing to my father who I watched and listened to over the years as he wrote sermons, poems and other recitals in his capacity in ministry. English has always been an easy subject for me and over the years I have developed an increased interest in writing. I am a Trainer, I sing and have a passion for worship, the spoken word and the free flow of the prophetic anointing. I am married to my best friend Andrew Christopher Young who is an advanced Musician and whose music you can find on YouTube and Facebook. I am a trained Coach and Mentor and I love experimenting with food so I love cooking. I enjoy trying cultural dishes from across the world and I view food as an entry into cultures and languages.

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