二十七章到三十一章描述的是族長時代的第三位主要人物：雅各（意為「欺騙」），他是一個名副其實的人！竊取原屬於孿生哥哥以掃的福分，顯示出他詭計多端的性格。藉著雅各，上帝的應許開始有更明確的實現──一比一百五十年前更多。雅各在哈蘭羈留的二十年間，為著一個妻子奮力工作，後來又多了三名妻子，育有十一個兒子和一個女兒，以及為數龐大的牲口和家僕－這是上帝要建立一個新的國家的開始。

        你會發現一個事實：只要有一個雅各，必有一個拉班，因為每一個堅持己見行事，老想給上帝出主意的人，結果常常會痛苦不堪的撞上另一個與他旗鼓相當的陰謀家！
        在雅各的生命中，拉班成為教訓雅各的上帝之杖。不管他多麼頑固任性（創28：15），上帝確實要用雅各完成祂的計畫，但雅各卻無法免去二十年痛苦的煎熬，如果他在迦南就學會服事上帝，情況斷不會如此。
        你曾注意到「拉班原理」在你屬靈的生命中佔有一席之地嗎？上帝允許的打擊也許來自家人、同事或債主，但那都是操練，目標永遠一致：促使你的屬靈生命更成熟！
        現在很明確的描寫下次當你發覺自己跑在上帝前面的時候，你決定怎麼辦的一段話。這個決定多半在一個星期還沒有結束之前就派得上用場，放心的用吧！

婚姻之誦或婚姻之毒？
        上帝制定一夫一妻制的智慧，在雅各家令人扼腕的婚姻裡得到明證，利亞和拉結在家中經常發生嫉妒、爭執和暗中較勁。為了提醒你對上帝所期許的家庭生活，請你再讀一次創世記二章二十三到二十四節，然後再翻到列王紀上十一章一到八節，就會發現還有一個「多妻、多悽」的人！

禱告後的等候，通常是回答的一部分。

English

        Chapters 27-31 introduce the third major character of the patriarchal period: Jacob ("deceiver"), a man who truly lives up to his name! The theft of the family blessing intended for his twin brother, Esau, demonstrates his scheming character. But it is through Jacob that God's promises—made more than a century and a half earlier—begin to be fulfilled in greater degree. During a 20-year stay in Haran, Jacob works for one wife and gets three more in the bargain, fathers eleven sons and a daughter, and amasses huge quantities of livestock and servants—the nucleus from which God will fashion a new nation.

        For every Jacob, you'll usually find a Laban. For every individual who insists on doing things his own way, giving God a helping hand, there is often a painful head-on collision with someone who is at least his equal as a schemer.
        Laban became God's rod of discipline in Jacob's life. There's no doubt God was accomplishing His purpose with Jacob despite his stubbornness and conniving (28:15), but Jacob could have spared himself 20 years of grief if he had learned to wait on God in Canaan.
        Have you noticed "The Laban Principle" at work in your own spiritual life? God's stroke of discipline may be applied by a family member, a fellow employee, a creditor. But the goal is always the same: to help you develop spiritual maturity.
        Write out a one-paragraph description of exactly what you are going to do the next time you feel like rushing ahead of God. Chances are, before the week is out you'll need it... and use it!

Marital Bliss ... or Marital Blisters? —
        The wisdom of God's original one man/one woman blueprint for marriage is illustrated in the sad example of Jacob's household, where jealousy, bickering, and scheming between Leah and Rachel were regular occurrences. Refresh your memory of family life God's way by rereading Genesis 2:23-24. Then look up 1 Kings 11:1-8 to discover another man for whom multiple wives meant multiplied woes.

Waiting for an answer to prayer is often part of the answer.