The story of Jacob and Laban is found in Genesis chapters 29-31. Jacob had fled from his brother Esau and came to stay with his uncle Laban. He ended up working for Laban for 20 years – 14 years to marry Laban’s two daughters Leah and Rachel, and then 6 more years to build up his own flocks (Genesis 31:41). After 20 years, Jacob decided it was time to return to his homeland of Canaan with his family and livestock. However, Jacob left without telling Laban, his father-in-law, which angered Laban when he found out.
Laban pursued Jacob and his family and caught up with them in the hill country of Gilead. Laban was upset that Jacob had left without saying goodbye and accused him of stealing his household gods. Jacob denied stealing Laban’s idols and insisted that he had worked faithfully for Laban for 20 years despite Laban changing his wages ten times (Genesis 31:6-7, 41).
After this confrontation, Laban and Jacob made a covenant of peace. Genesis 31:44-54 records:
“Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap…And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, and Mizpah, for he said, “The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.”
So why did Laban say “May the Lord watch between you and me”? There are a few reasons:
1. To establish a covenant of protection and care
By invoking God’s watchful eye, Laban was establishing a covenant between himself and Jacob to honor and protect each other even when they were apart. This was a way of ensuring there would be no future conflict or wrongdoing against each other. Even though they would be physically separated and out of each other’s sight, God would be witness between them.
2. To remind Jacob to treat his daughters well
Laban specifically mentioned that if Jacob oppressed or mistreated Laban’s daughters (Jacob’s wives), God would see it. This was a warning to Jacob to care for Leah and Rachel and any future children they may have.
3. To prevent Jacob from taking other wives
Laban also mentioned that if Jacob took any additional wives, God would know. During this time, it was common for men to have multiple wives, but Laban wanted to make sure Jacob remained faithful and committed to his daughters.
4. As a sign of trust despite past wrongs
There was a lack of trust between Laban and Jacob – Laban had deceived Jacob into marrying Leah before Rachel, and Jacob had just left without properly saying goodbye. By invoking God’s presence, Laban was showing he still wanted good faith between them in the future in spite of past hurts and offenses.
5. To emphasize God’s omniscience
Laban’s words underscored that no matter the physical distance or lack of human witnesses, God sees everything. Nothing is hidden from the Lord’s sight. Laban and Jacob could depend on God’s perfect knowledge and justice.
6. To highlight God’s role as judge and protector
The covenant affirmed God’s authority over both men. If either broke the terms, God had the power to judge and discipline them. But it also showed God’s care – just as he had protected Jacob on his journey back to Canaan, God would continue watching over both parties.
So in summary, “May the Lord watch between you and me” was Laban’s way of sealing a covenant with Jacob before they parted ways. It expressed his desire that they would treat each other fairly and keep their promises, reminded Jacob to care for his daughters, prevented future conflict, and invoked God’s protection and justice between them.
The parting words between Laban and Jacob revealed a semi-reconciliation between the two men. Though there was still some lingering distrust, Laban hoped to prevent future harm on either side by calling on God to oversee their dealings. He wanted accountability before God and expected Jacob to act rightly, especially in his treatment of Leah and Rachel. By acknowledging God’s presence, both men were yielding to divine authority as the ultimate judge, protector, and witness between them.
7. Other Examples of God “Watching Between”
The idea of God “watching between” two parties is not unique to Laban and Jacob. A few other biblical examples include:
- Abraham and Abimelech – After a dispute over a well, they made a covenant and acknowledged God as watcher between them (Genesis 21:22-32).
- Isaac and Abimelech – They established a pact in Beersheba, invoking God as overseer (Genesis 26:26-33).
- David and Jonathan – Their covenant included the belief that God would watch between their descendants (1 Samuel 20:14-17, 42).
- Israelites and Gibeonites – Joshua made a treaty between them, calling on God as witness (Joshua 9).
In all these examples, invoking God’s presence and oversight served to guarantee the keeping of covenants and settling of disputes between two parties. It showed dependence on God’s guidance and established accountability before him.
8. Principles We Can Apply
While today we may not make formal covenants in the same way, several principles can be drawn from Laban’s words to Jacob:
- God cares about how we treat others, even those we are no longer close to.
- Our actions should honor God, no matter who is watching.
- Keeping our word demonstrates godly character.
- Broken relationships can be mended through mutual humility and forgiveness.
- God protects the vulnerable from being oppressed or mistreated.
- Faithfulness in small things pleases God.
- God oversees all our relationships and interactions.
- We can trust God to watch over us wherever we go.
As in the time of Jacob and Laban, God is still all-seeing and all-knowing today. We can rest assured that He oversees our lives with perfect justice and love. His presence watches between us and those we interact with, guiding us into right relationship with others and honoring Him.
9. Jacob’s Ongoing Respect for Laban
Jacob appeared to take Laban’s words to heart. Many years later when reuniting with Esau, Jacob instructed his family to refer to him as “your servant Jacob” to gain Esau’s favor (Genesis 32:4-5). He seemed to adopt an attitude of humility and service rather than entitlement. This may have reflected the impact Laban’s warnings had on shaping Jacob’s later attitude and conduct.
When Jacob eventually died in Egypt, his instructions were to bury him in Canaan in the cave of Machpelah where Abraham and Isaac were buried (Genesis 49:29-32). He wanted to honor his family and heritage. Yet he also specially instructed his sons to show kindness to Laban’s family (Genesis 49:31). This showed he had not forgotten Laban and wanted ongoing goodwill between their descendants.
So Laban’s desire that God would “watch between” them seemed to promote more righteous behavior in Jacob throughout his life. The covenant at Galeed served as a turning point in their relationship that set them on better footing going forward.
10. How God Watches Over Us Today
As modern believers, we can be assured God still sees and watches over all we do. Hebrews 4:13 declares, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” God’s complete awareness of every detail of our lives is not meant to create anxiety but rather comfort that He cares and will work all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
Psalm 121:3-8 beautifully expresses how God watches over us always:
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
No matter where we find ourselves, we can trust God watches over us and sees all. As we seek to honor Him in our relationships and actions, we can depend on His loving care and discipline, just as Jacob and Laban experienced.
