Read: Genesis 29
In this
chapter Jacob arrives at his journey’s destination and meets some shepherds at
a well with three flocks of sheep. He
asked the shepherds if they knew Laban (v. 5) and they reply that they did (v.
6) and that Rachel, Laban’s daughter, was coming with the sheep. They dialog a bit about the logistics of
watering and pasturing the sheep (v. 7-8) as Rachel comes up with her father’s
sheep (v. 9). Here we see a woman as a
shepherdess! Jacob then helps to water
Laban’s sheep (v. 10) and then kisses Rachel and weeps (v. 11). He explains that he is her relative so she
runs to tell her father (v. 12). Laban hurries
to meet Jacob and embraces him and kisses him, bringing him home (v. 13).
After a
month of staying with them, Laban suggests that Jacob receive pay for his work
(v. 15). Laban obviously saw that Jacob
was of great use to him and therefore wished to keep him around to work on his
farm. Jacob agreed to work for Laban for
seven years in return for Rachel’s hand in marriage (v. 18). Rachel was the younger of Laban’s two daughters;
Leah was the oldest (v. 16). Laban
agreed and Jacob served the seven years to get Rachel (v. 20). After the seven years had passed the day for
the marriage arrived but Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, the older
sister (v. 23). The marriage feast
lasted seven days (v. 27) and after that Laban would give Rachel to Jacob in
exchange for another seven years of labour (v. 27). Jacob, the deceiver was now deceived! Jacob agreed and received Rachel as his wife
(v. 28). It is clear that Jacob did not
have to work another seven years before receiving Rachel but that he got Rachel
and then worked the seven extra years.
The giving of the maidservants to Leah and Rachel were significant as
they bore children to Jacob. Scripture
is also clear that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah (v. 30). Leah then conceived and bore four sons to
Jacob – Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah.
Leah, although she was neglected by Jacob and despised by Rachel, had a
great purpose in God’s plan. The two
greatest tribes of Israel came from Leah, not Rachel - Levi, the priestly
tribe, and Judah, the royal tribe which would birth the Messiah. The uglier sister, who was neglected and
despised, learned to look to the Lord and praise Him.
Prayer and Journaling
1. During
the month that Jacob spent with Laban he was busy making himself useful, so
useful in fact that Laban desired to keep him around. It is good to use our time wisely and
profitably as there is no room for laziness in the life of a Christian. Ask the Lord to show you how you are doing in
the area of laziness. Are you diligent
and productive? What are your biggest
time wasters? Are you making excuses for
not keeping up with the work that is your responsibility? What does the Lord want to say to you about
these things today?
2. Laban’s
deception and manipulation of Jacob created years of discord between his two
daughters. Rachel and Leah were in
constant competition with each other.
Leah received children and Rachel received Jacob’s love and they were
both jealous of each other. Jealousy is
a terrible thing and can cause division in families and friendships. Ask the Lord to reveal to you any areas of
your heart where you are jealous or envious of another. Then, confess these things as sin and ask for
forgiveness.
3. When the Lord saw Leah was unloved He opened
her womb (v. 31). Here we see God’s
compassion on Leah, which is touching.
She was innocent in this mess and God ministered to her and met her
needs. She had been scorned by her
husband, who preferred Rachel. The naming
of her fourth son, Judah was significant.
His name means “praise”. This
shows how Leah had stopped naming her children to reflect the pain and longing
in her heart, she now focused on God.
She let God meet her needs and could now praise Him. She was driven to God by the neglect of her
husband. Ask the Lord to show you how He
meets your needs, even in the midst of your sorrow or troubles. Ask Him to show you His compassion towards
you and what your role is in praising Him.
Then, write out 8-10 things that you can praise God for in your life,
things that are going on right now. Then
praise Him for each one.
