And when you send him away from you

Deuteronomy 15:11

A lady applied for a job at a local bank. There was an opening, and it was a teller’s job. As a teller, she had to deal with all kinds of people, but she tried to do a good job. Her goal was to represent the bank in a professional way, while also being kind and understanding toward the customers. Her work ethic paid off, and she began to climb the ladder of success.

She was given an office job and also helped some of the workers who couldn’t seem to get their work done. After 33 years of working at the bank, other responsibilities began to enter her life. Her aged mother was having health problems and needed constant care. She began to consider retiring from her position.

Her time at the bank, although difficult at times, seemed as if it had flown by quickly. Her last day on the job arrived, and the people were celebrating with her. What a celebration it was. There was food, the sharing of memories, and the giving of gifts. Many of the high-ranking officers were present to congratulate her on the years she had worked at the bank. She had given them some of the best years of her life, but it was time for her to retire.

Have you ever considered retirement parties, gift-giving and celebrations? Where did the custom come from, and where did the tradition begin? Some people believe this custom of generosity had its beginning at least 4,000 years ago. It was practiced by the people in the Old Testament and recorded in Scripture as an example for us today.

Jacob had agreed to serve Laban for seven years in exchange for Rachel. Laban pulled a fast one on Jacob and gave him the older daughter. So, Jacob served another seven years to get the younger daughter (Rachel). This was a total of 14 years that he worked for Laban to get his wives.

Jacob begins to feel the stress rising between him and Laban as Jacob’s herds get bigger and Laban’s get smaller. He decides it is time to hit the road and take his wives, children and livestock with him.

Laban pursues Jacob and catches up with him. He then asked him this question in Genesis 31:27. “Why did you flee away from me, and not tell me, for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing.”

In the story of Joseph and his brothers, He set a banquet before them the night before they were going to leave. Genesis 43:34 says, “Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So, they drank and were merry with him.”

The custom of gift-giving when a hired servant leaves was evident when the Hebrews left Egypt. It was also included in the law God gave to Moses concerning a hired servant in Deuteronomy 15:9-15. As I bring this article to an end, I have one question. Are you a kind, generous-hearted person, one who reflects the character of God?

Contact the author at thoughtsonword@gmail.com if you have any comments or questions.

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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published four books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016, Eye of a Needle in 2017, Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019 and A Bridge Between in 2023. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children’s book.