If a pagan in the Bible says 'the Lord,' does that mean he believed in God?
No. When pagans in Scripture speak of 'the Lord' or 'God,' it does not necessarily mean they were actual believers or knew Jehovah. In that Middle Eastern environment, everyone was saturated with paganism, and even Abram’s relatives, all the children of Terah, were idolaters.
Les explains that at verse 31 Laban invites the man in as 'blessed of the Lord,' or of Jehovah, after he had seen the earrings and bracelets and the wealth the man represented. But Les reminds people that when pagans speak of the Lord and of God, it is not evidence that they themselves were actual believers or that they knew Jehovah. The whole Middle Eastern environment was saturated with paganism, and even Abram’s relatives, all the children of Terah, were idolaters. So Laban’s use of such language reflects that pagan setting rather than proving he had faith in God.
And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.