Genesis 31:1-13

1Jacob heard that Laban's sons were complaining about him. They were saying, ‘Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father. He has taken things from our father and he has become rich himself.’

2And Jacob could see that Laban was not as nice to him as he had been before.

3Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Go back to the land where your father and grandfather lived. Go back to your relatives. I will be with you there.’

4Jacob sent a message to Rachel and Leah. He said that they must come to the field where he was taking care of his animals.

5Jacob said to them, ‘I see that your father is not as nice to me now as he was before. But the God of my father has been with me.

6You know that I have worked very hard for your father. I have worked as well as I can.

7But your father has cheated me many times. He has changed what I receive for my work at least ten times. But God has protected me from him.

8Sometimes Laban said, “I will pay you with the animals that have different colours on their skin.” If he said that, all the animals gave birth to babies with different colours on their skins. Sometimes he said, “I will pay you with the animals that have marks on them.” Then all the animals gave birth to babies with marks on them.

9In this way God took away your father's animals, and he gave them to me.

10One night I had a dream. It was at the time when the animals were becoming pregnant. In the dream, I saw that the male goats had marks and different colours on their skin.

11The angel of God spoke to me in the dream. He said, “Jacob.” I replied, “Yes, here I am.”

12The angel said, “Look carefully. See all the male goats that are having sex with the female goats. They all have marks and different colours on their skin. I am helping you because I have seen the bad things that Laban has done to you.

13I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel. That is where you poured oil on the special stone and you made a promise to me. Now I am telling you to leave this land. Go back to the land where you were born.” ’