Laban, in the Bible, certainly felt that way about his nephew, Jacob.
Now, Laban wasn't exactly known for his generosity. When he heard about Jacob's arrival, penniless and seeking refuge, he was, shall we say, less than thrilled. "What?!" he likely grumbled, "Am I supposed to feed and house this guy for a month? A year maybe? He’s arrived with absolutely nothing!"
Sounds pretty selfish, right?
But here's where it gets interesting. Instead of relying on his own judgment (or lack thereof), Laban turned to his teraphim (תְּרָפִים). These teraphim were household idols – sort of like ancient fortune-telling devices. He consulted them, asking for advice on what to do with this suddenly-appeared nephew.
And the teraphim gave him quite a surprising answer.
They warned him, "Don't you dare send him away! His mazal, his star, his constellation, is so incredibly lucky that everything he touches will turn to gold. The blessing of the Lord will rest on everything you do, in your house and in your fields, all because of him.”
Wow. Can you imagine hearing that?
Laban, a shrewd businessman if nothing else, understood the implication immediately. This Jacob, this seemingly destitute relative, was actually a golden ticket. According to this particular legend, Laban wasn't acting out of kindness or familial love. He was acting in his own self-interest.
The Zohar, that foundational text of Kabbalah, often delves into the hidden meanings behind biblical stories. It suggests that even seemingly mundane events have deeper spiritual significance. In this case, Laban's reliance on idols highlights the contrast between true blessing and perceived fortune. Did Laban ever truly understand the source of the blessing? Or did he just see Jacob as a means to an end?
This little snippet from Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, makes you think, doesn't it? How often do we judge people based on their initial appearance or circumstances? How often do we fail to recognize the potential blessings hidden within unexpected encounters? And how often do we chase after what appears lucky, rather than seeking true, lasting blessing?