Genesis 29:1-30
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Jacob Arrives at Laban’s Home
29 As Jacob continued on his way to the east, 2 he looked out in a field and saw a well where shepherds took their sheep for water. Three flocks of sheep were lying around the well, which was covered with a large rock. 3 Shepherds would roll the rock away when all their sheep had gathered there. Then after the sheep had been watered, the shepherds would roll the rock back over the mouth of the well.
4 Jacob asked the shepherds, “Where are you from?”
“We’re from Haran,” they answered.
5 Then he asked, “Do you know Nahor’s grandson Laban?”
“Yes we do,” they replied.
6 “How is he?” Jacob asked.
“He’s fine,” they answered. “And here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”
7 Jacob told them, “Look, the sun is still high up in the sky, and it’s too early to bring in the rest of the flocks. Water your sheep and take them back to the pasture.”
8 But they replied, “We can’t do that until they all get here, and the rock has been rolled away from the well.”
9 While Jacob was still talking with the men, his cousin Rachel came up with her father’s sheep. 10 When Jacob saw her and his uncle’s sheep, he rolled the rock away and watered the sheep. 11 He then kissed Rachel and started crying because he was so happy. 12 He told her that he was the son of her aunt Rebekah, and she ran and told her father about him.
13 As soon as Laban heard the news, he ran out to meet Jacob. He hugged and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him everything that had happened. 14 Laban said, “You are my nephew, and you are like one of my own family.”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had been there for a month, 15 Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t have to work without pay, just because you are a relative of mine. What do you want me to give you?”
16-17 Laban had two daughters. Leah was older than Rachel, but her eyes didn’t sparkle,[a] while Rachel was beautiful and had a good figure.18 Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he answered, “If you will let me marry Rachel, I’ll work seven years for you.”
19 Laban replied, “It’s better for me to let you marry Rachel than for someone else to have her. So stay and work for me.” 20 Jacob worked seven years for Laban, but the time seemed like only a few days, because he loved Rachel so much.
21 Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up, and I want to marry Rachel now!” 22 So Laban gave a big feast and invited all their neighbors. 23 But that evening he brought Leah to Jacob, who married her and spent the night with her. 24 Laban also gave Zilpah to Leah as her servant woman.
25 The next morning Jacob found out that he had married Leah, and he asked Laban, “Why did you do this to me? Didn’t I work to get Rachel? Why did you trick me?”
26 Laban replied, “In our country the older daughter must get married first. 27 After you spend this week[b] with Leah, you may also marry Rachel. But you will have to work for me another seven years.”
28-30 At the end of the week of celebration, Laban let Jacob marry Rachel, and he gave her his servant woman Bilhah. Jacob loved Rachel more than he did Leah, but he had to work another seven years for Laban.
What does the Passage say?
Jacob Makes a grand entrance into Haran
Vs1-7 Jacob fled from Esau to his mother’s family hundreds of miles away in Haran. After the long journey he arrived at a well and learned that God had guided him right to his cousin Rachel.
Vs 8-10 It is interesting to note that, although Jacob was not a hunter like his brother, he was evidently quite strong. He moved the stone covering the well that usually required several shepherds’ effort.
Vs 11-16 Jacob’s Uncle Laban welcomed him into his home and Jacob settled into working for him as one of his shepherds. In one month, Laban recognized he would benefit from Jacob staying and offered him wages.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
Vs 17-20 Jacob had quickly fallen in love with beautiful Rachel and offered to work for seven years in Laban’s service for the honor of marrying her.
Vs 21-25 Finally the seven years were accomplished, and Jacob asked to marry Rachel. Laban prepared a wedding feast and Jacob most likely drank enough wine to impair his judgment and senses. Laban brought Rachel’s older sister Leah to Jacob for his wedding night and Jacob didn’t realize he had been deceived until the next morning.
Vs 26-30 Laban-the-Bargainer made no apology for deceiving Jacob. He convinced his nephew to work another seven years in order to have Rachel as his wife after Jacob celebrated a week of honeymoon with Leah. Jacob now had two wives, who clearly knew who he favored.
What does the Passage say to me/us?
God works in mysterious ways. He allowed Jacob to deceive his brother. He brought Jacob to his deceptive Uncle Laban. And God used two sisters- who competed for their husband’s favor by giving him children – to fulfill of His promise to Abraham that his offspring would number more than the stars in the heavens (Gen 15:5). The story of deceit in Jacob’s family is fascinating, rich in human willfulness, suffering, determination, success, weakness all under the watchful eye of God our Father.
In the middle of living out “alls-well-that-ends-well” is a lot of messy living. So often we feel out of control, and even abandoned by God. Through the years many people have asked me why God brought hardship, or allowed relationships to end, or closed doors of opportunity or didn’t answer their fervent prayers. These are questions we can only answer through the hindsight of many years watching life unfold.
How can we remain hopeful in the meantime? I truly lean on the saga of God’s people in our blessed Bible to help me have faith that God is trustworthy and in control. When life becomes uncomfortable and desperate don’t we all pray more? All the Biblical accounts of walking by faith support me when I can’t see good in what lies before me. When I am frustrated by challenges and hurt by change I remember (and chant to myself) “All things work together for good for those who love the Lord who are called according to His purposes.”(Romans 8:28). It helps me trust that if I am living by faith, something very good will be accomplished – in His perfect timing.
Prayer
All knowing Heavenly Father , You make a Way where there seems to be no way to accomplish Your Good purposes. Help us today to take one day at a time living faith fully. Use Your Holy Word to guide us, to support us, to remind us we might not know the future but we know Who holds the future in the palm of His loving hand. Amen.
Contributed by Stephanie Dickenson
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