Part 4 of 5 - Jacob’s Adventures in Love & Trickery

Genesis 30-31

re-told by Debbie Dunn

Story highlights:

* God told Jacob to return to his parents after 20 years

* Jacob took his family to Canaan while Laban was shearing sheep

* God intervened so that though Laban chased after Jacob- they parted in peace

Bible role-play begins:

Narrator #1: One day, after our husband Jacob had been working for our father Laban for 20 years, he sent a message to my sister and me.

Narrator #2: Jacob asked us to meet him in the field where his flocks of sheep, goats, cows, camels, and donkeys were.

Narrator #1: As a reminder of our complicated tale, Jacob was married to 4 women.

Narrator #2: I, Leah, was the woman my father tricked him into marrying. I was able to give him six sons and one daughter.

Narrator #1: The woman he wanted to marry, my younger sister Rachel, became Jacob's second wife. She had to wait 14 years before finally giving him a son named Joseph.

Narrator #2: Fearing she might never have children, she had Jacob marry her handmaid, Bilhah. They had two sons.

Narrator #1: Then, I gave him my handmaid, Zilpah, to marry. They also had two sons.

Narrator #2: Jacob worked 14 years to pay for two of his four wives and six years to earn a salary of flocks of his very own.

Narrator #1: When my sister and I reached the field, Jacob told us, "I have news to report. I will repeat what God told me."

Father God: Jacob, the time has come for you to return to the land of your father and relatives. At all times, I will be with you.

Narrator #2: Rachel and I had such mixed feelings about our father. We loved him, of course, but we also resented that he kept finding ways to cheat Jacob out of his wages.

Narrator #1: We said to our husband, "Doesn't our father regard us like property? Not only did he sell us two to you, but he was also greedy by cheating you out of some of your wages."

Narrator #2: We thought a bit and then concluded, "So do whatever God has told you."

Narrator #1: While our father was off shearing sheep, Jacob loaded all of us up on camels. We started on our way to return to the land where Jacob had lived with his parents.

Narrator #2: Jacob took only the livestock that belonged to him and all the property he had gathered in the last six years.

Narrator #1: When our father Laban heard that we had left, he spent seven days chasing us down.

Narrator #2: The night before he reached us, God came to Laban in a dream and said these words.

Father God: Laban, be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad. In other words, you must not hurt or harm him in any manner.

Narrator #1: When Laban finally caught up with Jacob, Jacob reminded him of the following: "In all the 20 years I worked for you, you changed my wages 10 times."

Narrator #2: "If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed."

Narrator #1: Jacob continued, "But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands. And last night, he rebuked you."

Narrator #2: Eventually, Laban said, "As long as you promise not to take a fifth wife, I will return home in peace."

Narrator #1: Before he left, he kissed my sister, me, and all of his grandchildren. He even gave all of us a blessing.

Narrator #2: END OF SKIT. Let's give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of Part 4 of 5 - Jacob’s Adventures in Love & Trickery.

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Friday, August 14, 2026

Bible tale: Part 4 of 5 - Jacob’s Adventures in Love & Trickery