“And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.”
Genesis 31:10 is part of the narrative about Jacob’s departure from Laban’s household. To understand this verse in its context, let’s explore the surrounding verses and the broader story.
In Genesis 31, we find Jacob working for his uncle Laban, tending to his flocks. Jacob had made an agreement with Laban to receive specific kinds of livestock as his wages. However, Laban continuously changed the terms of the agreement, which resulted in Jacob feeling mistreated and manipulated.
In verse 7, Jacob recounts a dream he had, where God instructed him to leave Laban’s household and return to his own land. Jacob understood this dream as a sign from God, directing him to leave and promising to be with him.
In verse 10, Jacob tells his wives Rachel and Leah about another dream he had. He shares that when the flocks were breeding, he looked up and saw the rams that were mating with the flock. To his surprise, the rams were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. These terms describe patterns and colors on the animals’ coats, indicating some unusual and distinctive markings.
This dream about the mating of the flocks is significant because it foreshadows what Jacob will later do to increase his own wealth. In the subsequent verses, Jacob explains that he has noticed how Laban’s treatment has been unfair. He reveals that he has devised a plan to increase his own flock by breeding the animals with the ringstraked, speckled, and grisled markings, which were not typical among Laban’s flocks.
The dream, therefore, serves as a catalyst for Jacob’s decision to leave Laban’s household and also provides him with a strategy to build his own wealth as God had promised. The dream and the markings on the animals serve as a divine sign and encouragement to Jacob, assuring him of God’s presence and guidance in his life.
This episode in Jacob’s life teaches us several lessons. First, it reminds us that God is aware of our circumstances and can use dreams and signs to guide us. Jacob recognized the significance of the dream and acted upon it, trusting in God’s direction.
Second, it highlights the importance of discernment and wisdom in making decisions. Jacob observed the physical characteristics of the rams and used that information to formulate a plan that would ultimately benefit him. However, we should also note that Jacob’s success was not solely due to his own cleverness but was ultimately a result of God’s blessing and providence.
Finally, this story emphasizes the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises. God had previously promised to be with Jacob and to bless him, and we see the fulfillment of that promise as Jacob’s flocks increase despite Laban’s attempts to deceive him.
