"Greetings Everyone in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Today's Blog Title: "Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel"
Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:15-30
Today's Key Verse: Genesis 29:25 "And it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?"
When reading today's key verse, I wonder if Jacob at last, grasped how it felt to be deceived and cheated. God is always there, teaching us lessons in life. It would seem fair to say like the saying, "what comes around goes around", was true here in Jacobs case.
As we start part 2 of Chapter 29 in verse 15 we see Laban asking Jacob what wages would he want. We are then told that Laban had two daughters Leah the oldest and Rachel the youngest. Leah's name may be a term of endearment meaning "Wild Cow", while Rachel's name meant "Ewe Lamb". Leah had a special loveliness in her eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful form. Rachel's description here is similar to the descriptions of Sarai (Genesis 12:11) and of Rebekah (Genesis 24:16).
In verse 18, we see a rare Biblical example of "love at first sight". You will remember that Jacob's father Isaac, felt the same way when he first saw Rebekah, Jacobs mother. We see that Jacob tells Laban that he will serve him for 7 years for his daughter Rachel. Wow!!! What a stunning demonstration of the value Jacob placed on Rachel.
Jacob's love for Rachel was so great, that the 7 years of service to Laban seemed to him like just a few days. Laban then has a big feast which would indicate that there was drinking. In those days a public feast in recognition of the union made the marriage between Jacob and Leah official, even though Leah was the wrong woman. We see that Jacob in the morning realizes that he had been deceived. The word deceived means, "to act treacherously with" or "to betray". Jacob the deceiver had been deceived by Laban.
Laban statement to Jacob, that it is a cultural thing that the youngest cannot be married before the oldest, would be doubtful. By this deceit, Laban got Jacob to work for him for another 7 years. We now see just how much Jacob loved Rachel, because he worked another 7 years for the woman whom he really wanted, and loved. As we close part 2 of Genesis 29, in verses 28-30, we see that after Jacob worked another 7 years for Rachel, that all his labor came to fruit, in that he finally had Rachel as his wife, as well as Leah, but Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, and Jacob served Laban another 7 years.
Closing Question and Comment: "Do you keep on trusting the Lord when life takes unexpected turns?" The story of Jacob's marriages, reminds us of the wisdom of God's original design. How deeply it hurt Leah, to married to a man who did not love her. How tragic the pain felt by a childless Rachel, and Leah's attempt to get back at her sister, through her own ability to bear children. God's way really is always best.
Oh God, awesome in power,
Oh God, gentle in love.
Oh God, You are my God and I love You.
Oh God, full of compassion,
Oh God, faithful and true.
Oh God, You are my God and I love You
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in peace, Serve the Lord with Gladness and Love God More Today.
Yours In Christ,
Cindi
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