天然的雅各怎样需要一个压榨的拉班，我们天然的性情也需要压榨。拉班压榨的手不是偶然的，乃是主宰的神豫先安排的。神用以撒、利百加和以扫，把雅各放进变化炉中，而拉班是炉中焚烧的火。这些人都被神用来变化雅各。不要抱怨你的境遇。有时候，当我正抱怨时，我忽然看见光，神似乎说，“你为甚么抱怨？你不知道这是我的安排么？你的妻子、孩子和教会中所有的弟兄，都是我豫先安排的。”你的妻子、丈夫和孩子正是你的性情所需要的。我们会错，但神永远不会错。每件事都是出于主的手，我们无须抱怨，反而该简单的说，“主，为着这样一个好拉班，我感谢你。”
雅各虽然受拉班压榨威胁，他仍然能诈骗拉班（创三十31-43）。有一天雅各告诉拉班，他要回到他的本乡，拉班应该将他服事这么多年所得的妻子、孩子给他（创三十25-26）。拉班回答说，“我若在你眼前蒙恩，请你仍与我同住，因为我已算定，耶和华赐福与我，是为你的缘故。”（创三十27）。拉班看起来很客气，但他很狡诈。狡诈的人总是很客气。谁对你客气便是狡诈的，谁对你不客气却是诚实的。拉班对雅各非常狡诈，说他知道自己得着耶和华的祝福，是因雅各与他同住。当时拉班对雅各说，“请你定你的工价，我就给你。”雅各回答说，“我怎样服事你，你的牲畜在我手里怎样，是你知道的。我未来之先，你所有的很少，现今却发大众多，耶和华随我的脚步赐福与你；如今我甚么时候才为自己兴家立业呢？”（创三十28-30）。拉班知道雅各若离去，神的祝福就会随他离开。
信息重点：拉班压榨的手不是偶然的，乃是在神主宰的安排之下。神借着拉班的压榨，对付雅各天然的性情，使他经历变化。
应用祷告：主啊，求你使我在环境中看见你的手，不只是求你改变环境，更愿意接受你的对付和变化。
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Laban’s Exploitation (2) — Gen. 30:25-26
How the natural Jacob needed an exploiting Laban, so our natural disposition also needs to be exploited. The exploiting hand of Laban was not accidental, but was arranged beforehand by the sovereign God. God used Isaac, Rebekah and Esau to place Jacob into the furnace of transformation, and Laban was the fire burning within that furnace. All these people were used by God to transform Jacob. Do not complain about your circumstances. Sometimes, when I was complaining, I suddenly saw light, and God seemed to say, “Why are you complaining? Do you not know that this is My arrangement? Your spouse, your children and all the brothers and sisters in the church are all arranged by Me beforehand.” Your spouse and your children are exactly what your disposition needs. We may be wrong, but God is never wrong. Everything comes from the Lord’s hand; we have no need to complain, but should simply say, “Lord, for such a good Laban, I thank You.”
Although Jacob was threatened by Laban’s exploitation, he was still able to deceive Laban (Gen. 30:31-43). One day Jacob told Laban that he wanted to return to his own country, and that Laban should give him the wives and children for whom he had served all these years (Gen. 30:25-26). Laban answered, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account” (Gen. 30:27). Laban seemed very polite, but he was very crafty. Crafty people are always polite. Whoever is polite to you may be crafty; whoever is impolite to you may be honest. Laban was extremely crafty with Jacob, saying that he knew he had been blessed by the LORD because of Jacob’s presence with him. At that time Laban said to Jacob, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” Jacob answered, “You yourself know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared with me. 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?” (Gen. 30:28-30). Laban knew that if Jacob left, God’s blessing would leave with him.
Message Focus: Laban’s exploiting hand was not accidental, but was under God’s sovereign arrangement. Through Laban’s exploitation, God dealt with Jacob’s natural disposition, causing him to experience transformation.
Prayer: Lord, cause me to see Your hand in my environment; may I not merely ask You to change my environment, but be willing to accept Your dealing and transformation.