06/11/2008 Genesis 29:21

06/11/2008

Genesis 29:21 - 30 (HCSB) ²¹Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed. I want to sleep with her.” ²²So Laban invited all the men of the place to a feast. ²³That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. ²⁴And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave.

²⁵When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?” ²⁶Laban answered, “It is not the custom in this place to give the younger _[daughter in marriage_] before the firstborn. ²⁷Complete this week _[of wedding celebration_], and we will also give you this _[younger_] one in return for working yet another seven years for me.”

²⁸And Jacob did just that. He finished the week _[of celebration_], and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. ²⁹And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave. ³⁰Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

Jacob left his father’s house because Esau was determined to kill him. He went to live with his uncle, Rebekah’s brother. Upon arrival, he develops an immediate affection for Rachael, his cousin. He makes a deal with her father to work 7 years for the hand of Rachael, but on the day after the consummation (most likely the bride was completely veiled during the ceremony), Jacob realizes that he has been tricked. The sister that he has married was Leah—not Rachael.

It seems somewhat fitting that this trickster would be tricked. Jacob had conspired to deceive his own father in a matter of the birthright blessing, and now, his uncle has deceived him in the matter of his bride.

There are a couple of observations here. First off, we can see no immediate benefit in this action. When Jacob deceived his father, it was in fulfillment of a prophecy, but this swapping of the sisters does not seem to make any sense. Maybe Leah was not so attractive. The scripture tells us she had “delicate” (literally “tender”) eyes. We aren’t sure what this means. Laban argues that it is the custom that the older sister(s) marry before the younger. It would have been nice for him to mention this BEFORE the wedding. Nonetheless, Jacob finds himself with an unintended wife. But reading further, we will see that Judah, the tribe that will be the lineage for the Messiah, is born to Leah.

Secondly, what kind of love is this? We see the passion of a man who is willing to work for 7 years for a wife, but after being deceived, agrees to work another seven years for the woman he loves. Most marriages today don’t last for 14 years, much less engagements! Perhaps it is this passion and dedication that God sees in Jacob that makes him the chosen between he and Esau.

We need to take a lesson from Jacob. Our passion and affection for God should be so determined that nothing can dampen our determination to serve and win His favor. Satan will throw all kinds of tricks in our path to try to discourage us, but we must keep our eyes on Him and strive to please Him. For our reward will surpass any impediment we may encounter.

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