Laban
is a Biblical character. He was the brother of Rebecca, the mother of Jacob.
Jacob was the great patriarch after whom the Jews got the name Israel.
Jacob
had to flee from his own home because of some family issues. He was advised by
his mother to seek shelter in the house of Laban. Laban turned out to be a protector
and a blessing for Jacob.
Jacob
lived and worked there for Laban. Laban was a large scale shepherd who had
hundreds of lambs. One day Jacob expressed his wish to marry Rachel the second
daughter of Laban. Laban readily agreed with one condition that Jacob should
pay a dowry to him, as was the Biblical custom. Since Jacob had no wealth,
Laban asked Jacob to work for him for 7 years without pay. Jacob did work. As
per the custom of the land the father, Laban gave his daughter to Jacob by dusk
as his wife. But Laban cheated Jacob by giving his first daughter, Leah as his
wife.
Jacob
was in deep love with Rachel. Laban agreed to give Rachel to him as wife, for
which Jacob had to go through the same process. Jacob worked for Laban without
any reward for the next seven years. He finally could marry Rachel. Now he had
two wives.
Jacob
wanted to return home. He understood that Laban was really exploiting him and
making wealth. Jacob had nothing even after 14 years of hard work, but Laban
became a hundred times rich by all the labour of Jacob.
Laban
did not want to miss the labour of Jacob. So he ventured into a contract.
Obeying the conditions of the contract between Jacob and Laban, Jacob worked
there for 6 more years. After 20 years of hard work, from which Laban benefited
a lot, Jacob realized that his works were not rewarded well. Not only that,
since Jacob also made some wealth by the hard labour of last 6 years, Laban and
his sons were angry towards him. They wanted all the wealth to them and sent
away Jacob empty handed.
So
Jacob decided to return back to home. He escaped secretly with his wealth and
his wives. But he was traced down by Laban. Fortunately Jacob could explain his
plight and enter into a treaty of peace with him.
What
have you picked from this story? Laban, Jacob and the whole story allegorically
teaches us lessons against exploitation, treachery and impoverishment. Let us
see how it is:
1.
Laban is one of
your relative, friend, your family friend etc. You just cannot slap him at the
face and walk away. You are indebted to
him this way or that. But he is the exploiter of your life.
2.
As long as you
work for him, you are impoverished and he prospers. You know that all his
wealth is the fruit of your hard labour, for which you get only peanuts. He
admits often that your work is a blessing for him, but never increases your
salary.
3.
He knows your
importance in his business/industry/project. But he will never go beyond a
peanut reward for you. Exploitation is his character. He is ready to offer
anything to keep you with him, except a pay hike.
4.
He is a cheater. He
signs contracts with you, but cheats you every now and then and breaks the
contracts wisely. You are left with nothing to object him. You cannot prove his
cheat. He does it wisely.
5.
If you talk of
leaving him, he comes up with another contract that looks more favourable for
you. Still it will stand far away from your real reward.
6.
You may make
wealth even in this circumstance, by hard work and God’s blessings. Laban may
be getting his fair share. Still he is angry to see you becoming rich. His face
darkens at your richness. He makes your days with him unhappy.
7.
At last, you have
run away and escaped from him. He will come after you with threats. He wants
you to sign a new contract and return to him. He will do all he can to make
your life difficult.
Are
you in such a situation; in such a relationship; in such a partnership?
The
only way to escape is running away.
Run
away. Never return. Never enter into another contract.
Professor
Jacob Abraham
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