Lavan was very interested in possessions; he was into occultism and loved dishonest earnings. Yaakov was a very responsible man and was careful to differentiate possessions that belonged to one or the other. He didn't take advantage at all of the freedom that Lavan had given him as an employee. He didn't eat from Lavan's herd and he made himself responsible for damage done to his employer’s herd, and paid for what was stolen (31:38, 39). When Lavan checked Yaakov and his family's luggage, he couldn't find anything stolen (31:37).

But Lavan wanted to take advantage of others as much as he could. The difference in attitude and conduct between them was huge.

Lavan had the opportunity of his life to be blessed permanently by the presence and example of Yaakov in his house. While Yaakov worked for him, his goods increased considerably (30:30). Lavan could have remained a rich man if he had repented of his greediness and dishonesty. But the Eternal didn't want to bless Lavan if he continued to be so stingy. He has created a spiritual law for the greedy, according to Proverbs 28:22: "A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him." (ESV)

The Eternal eventually showed Yaakov a prophetic method that so through miracles in breeding Lavan's cattle, the healthier, more robust ones, would become Yaakov's. The Eternal didn't want to make Lavan rich in his state of sin and that's why he helped Yaakov to take away his riches in an honest way.

Ketriel