Jacob meets his match, marries Leah and Rachel

Next here in Genesis 29 we read how Jacob arrives at the dwelling place of his relatives, and meets his future (favourite) wife Rachel at the well. Reversing (24:18, 19), this time it is Jacob who waters the animals. When Rachel’s father Laban hears that Jacob is his sister's son,  he is welcomed into the house. After a month Laban asks Jacob what wages he would require to serve him. Jacob loves Rachel, the younger of Laban's two daughters,  and offers to serve him for seven years for her. “It seemed to him just a few days,” because he loved her so much.

When the seven years are up,  there’s a feast and at the end of the night,  when it was dark,  Laban took Leah the elder of his two daughters to Jacob's tent.  And Jacob did not know it was not Rachel until the morning. When confronted,  Laban explains  that is was not the custom give the younger daughter first.  However Jacob could serve another seven years for Rachel. After Leah's bridal week was fulfilled “Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years” Genesis 29:1-30).

There is a kind of poetic justice in Jacob,  the deceiver,  being deceived. Perhaps it's about what goes around comes around, but we are seeing here the beginning of Jacob's transformation. And if we respond well, an encounter with the Lord does indeed transform us. Laban’s devious character is not immediately clear to Jacob, and he enters into the agreement willingly and generously. A dowery of seven years labour given to the father, is a generous offer.  But in Jacob's eyes Rachel is a prize to be won.

I am sure you realize that Laban's devious character, is far from unique, for there is always someone willing to trick and/or take advantage of you.  Jesus puts it this way  “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).  You hear stories over and over,  of little old ladies who are perhaps overly trusting,  being protected by the Lord. It beats being skeptical and suspicious of everyone. So wise and harmless is the name of the game!  

I feel to say something about polygamy, the practice of having more than one spouse.  The Bible, as with many other issues, neither explicitly condemns,  nor condones it. Perhaps with men being killed in battle,  it was a necessary evil in that culture. Understanding that they would be rivals, the Law would later forbid a man to marry two sisters (Leviticus 18:18).  In the New Testament the qualification for leaders in the church required them to be “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2, 12).  Christian marriage is intended to be a picture of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32), and polygamy does not cut it.  For Christ,  the Church is a prize to won, and it's a model for husbands with respect to their wives (Ephesians 5:25)!

Father, Your Word is so practical, and obeying it sets us free. Speaking to believers Jesus said “If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples, and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free” (John 8:31,32 Amp). For these and many other precious promises we give You thanks and Praise in Jesus Name Amen