Laban

He was Jacob’s uncle and the father of Jacob’s two wives – Leah and Rachel.  Marrying within the extended family was common and acceptable at this time. Laban’s life was characterised by self-centeredness, manipulating people and constantly changing business deals for his own benefit (Gen 31:7,41).  The principle of sowing and reaping shows that often what we do to others, will be done to us (Gal 6:7,8). Those who take advantage of people will often find themselves used too, as happened in Laban’s life with Jacob eventually outsmarting him. He lived about 2000 BC.  His story is told in Genesis 27:43-31:55.

See also: Jacob, manipulation, sow and reap.