In reply Jacob plainly set forth Laban's selfish and grasping policy, and appealed to him as a witness to his own faithfulness and honesty. "Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me," said Jacob, "surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction, and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight."

At han ikke fik udført sit fjendtlige forsæt, skyldtes, at Gud selv havde grebet ind for at beskytte sin tjener. Laban sagde: "Det stod nu i min magt at handle ilde med dig; men din faders Gud sagde til mig i nat: Vogt dig vel for at sige så meget som et ondt ord til Jakob!" Det vil sige, han skulle ikke tvinge ham til at vende om eller presse ham med smigrende løfter.