1. I’ve read this story so many times. Not once did I see what God recently showed me. Jacob was asking his Uncle Laban to allow him to take his family and go back to his home. He wanted what was owed him, financially, also.

Gen 30:31 (NLT)  “What wages do you want?” Laban asked again. Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. 
v. 32  Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep. Give these to me as my wages. 
v. 33  In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.” 
v, 34  “All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.” 
v. 35  But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons,
v. 36  who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was. Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock. 

Jacob’s Uncle Laban was a crooked, dishonest, thieving, dishonorable man and had ripped off Jacob for 20 years. Read this whole story sometime – but for now, I want to show you how God can prosper you no matter what and no matter how awful your boss or job is.

Even though there was a deal in place, even though he was promised the cattle – he started out in the hole because there were NO spotted and speckled cattle, or black sheep. His wages were stolen. (Almost like being in debt.)

You will also notice in the story that he didn’t gripe. He didn’t claim, “That’s not faaiirr, God, whine whine”. He kept working for his Uncle. He simply did something unusual – something that didn’t make any sense – exactly what God told him to do.

Gen 30:37  Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. 
v. 38  Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. 
v. 39  And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 
v. 40  Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s. 
v. 41  Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. 
v. 42  But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. 
v. 43  As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys. 

God took care of Jacob. In essence, He also made sure Jacob got his back wages. He prospered him in a time when it looked like he could never get ahead, could never prosper, could never take care of his family – much less leave his Uncle’s employ. 

That’s how much God loves you and wants to make you wealthy! No matter what you’re facing – talk to God, trust Him, do whatever He tells you. Know that He WANTS to help you, that it is His will you prosper (and even bless your employer because you’re there!).

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