Genesis 29:1
So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East.
Went on
his journey,
literally means he, lifted up his feet. Jacob picked up his pace, had a
smile on his face, a spring in his step.
You would
be too, if God appeared to you like He just did Jacob. Genesis 28:13-15.
He’s floating
on cloud 9.
Wait, hold
up… something’s wrong with this picture.
Isn’t
Jacob the conman that bamboozled his brother Esau out of the birthright? Didn’t
he just deceive his blind dad into giving him the blessing?
Isn’t that why he’s on the run, because his brother wants him dead?
Now, he’s
skipping along singing, blue skies smilin’ at me, nothin’ but blue skies do
see—
That’s cuz
he’s getting’ off scot-free.
That doesn’t
seem right.
You’re right. But no worries. God’s got this.
Galatians 6:7-9
Be not
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap…
However,
it doesn’t always happen in a chapter, or one hour episode.
The principle
of sowing and reaping. It works for all, good or bad.
8 For he who sows to his flesh will
of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit
reap everlasting Life (zoe). 9 And let us not grow
weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. (If you don’t quit you win).
Sow good,
reap everlasting Life. Sow bad, reap corruption and death.
Jacob’s about to enter the school of sowing and reaping.
2 And he looked, and
saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by
it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the
well’s mouth. 3 Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they
would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone
back in its place on the well’s mouth.
Is this
the very same well where Jacob’s mom, Rebekah, met Eliezer, Grandpa Abraham’s
servant, who was sent to find a wife for Isaac, Jacob’s dad?
Is Jacob
standing in the very spot Eliezer prayed for Isaac’s bride, and while he was
still praying along came beautiful Rebekah? Genesis 24:14-15. And the rest is
HIStory. Rebekah went with Eliezer, married Isaac, and gave birth to twins, Heel
Grabber, and Hairy; Jacob and Esau.
Maybe it
isn’t the same place, but either way, this would be a great time, for Jacob to
pause and pray.
4 And Jacob said to
them, “My brethren, where are you from?”
And they said, “We
are from Haran.”
Bummer,
instead of pausing and praying to the Good Shepherd, he chats with the local
shepherds.
He’s
focused on his mission—finding Laban, and thereby, a wife.
Now, when
they said, “We are from Haran”, if he had a GPS, it’d be saying, “You have
reached your destination.”
5 Then he said to
them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?”
And they said, “We
know him.”
Clarification
regarding: Laban the son of Nahor.
Actually, Laban
was the son of Bethuel. Nahor is his grandpa.
Nahor,
Haran, and Abraham were brothers.
Haran was
Lot’s dad. He died before Abraham and family ever left Ur of the Chaldeans. The
place they stopped and stayed until the death of Abraham’s dad, was named Haran.
So, they
were well known names, and the shepherds would’ve known exactly what he meant
by: “Laban the son of Nahor.”
6 So he said to them,
“Is he well?”
And they said, “He is
well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.”
Wow!
Divine
timing. Divine connection.
So, without
a GPS, without texting his itinerary or ETA to Uncle Laban and family; he
arrives at the very spot, at the very time, his cute cousin Rachel shows up.
Very
similar to what happened when Eliezer showed up at the well.
7 Then he said, “Look,
it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together.
Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”
(Cattle: perhaps livestock would be
a better translation)
Remember,
back home, Jacob’s family employed multiple shepherds, so perhaps without
thinking he slipped into boss man mode.
He put on
his John Wayne hat, “You’re burning daylight pilgrims.” There’s plenty of day
for the sheep to graze. Why are you sitting around wasting time? Water the
sheep and get back to pasture.
Plus, when
he saw that lovely shepherdess coming, thinking she might be his future bride,
he might’ve simply wanted to shoo away the nosey shepherds.
8 But they said, “We
cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the
stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.”
Perhaps,
shepherds and snowbirds have something in common—they want to be first in line
for free refreshments.
Besides,
they probably preferred sitting in the shade by a well, rather than standing in
the heat of the pasture.
Additionally,
it was customary for the flocks to gather at a well like this, and water all at
once. Removing the stone was no small task; and the stone was necessary to
maintain the purity of the water, and soundness of the well structure.
9 Now while he was
still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a
shepherdess.
Jacob
probably wasn’t paying attention to his conversation with the shepherds; he was
too busy gawking at the shepherdess.
10 And it came to pass,
when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep
of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from
the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
Three
times we read, Laban his mother’s brother. The Lord makes
it abundantly clear, in triplicate, the blood line and lineage of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob who begets the 12 tribes of Israel.
Jacob
rolled away the stone.
See, after Rachel showed up, he didn’t hear a word those shepherds said about
having to wait to water.
Plus, he
might’ve still been in boss man mode, or, maybe a little macho man mode, to
impress the shepherdess.
So, he
wasn’t listening, or waiting, for anyone.
Notice, he
waters the flock himself.
This is an
interesting twist from the past and a prophetic glimpse to the future.
When
Eliezer met Rebekah, she’s the one who worked and watered his animals (camels).
However,
now, Jacob works and waters for Rachel; a prophetic glimpse into the next 20
years of Jacob tending his Uncle Laban’s flocks.
11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.
There it
is: kissing cousins.
The kiss
was a customary greeting, not a romantic gesture.
However, to
Rachel, Jacob was still just a stranger, so, it might’ve seemed a bit, strange.
Especially
when he raised his voice and wept after kissing her.
Rachel
checks her breath. Maybe I smell like sheep, but is it that awful to kiss
me? Or, is this guy just strange?
Jacob had probably
been on the road for about two weeks, over 400 miles, and might’ve been
overwhelmed by how, it all fell into place, just like that.
He didn’t
know it, but this was a Divine connection; the plan of God was falling into
place.
When the
natural collides with the Supernatural, many times the only response is
to weep. Some folks show up for Church and just weep. It’s cleansing, it’s
beautiful, it’s evidence of the Presence of the Lord.
Back in
Genesis 24:26-27, when the Divine connection happened with Eliezer and Rebekah,
he bowed down and worshipped the Lord.
Unfortunately,
we don’t see this with Jacob.
He’s got a
lot of growing to do. So, God adds a little Miracle Grow, by this Divine
connection, to get Jacob headed in the right direction that leads straight to
Jacob’s school of sowing and reaping; that’ll involve a whole lot of pruning.
12 And Jacob told
Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son.
We’re cousins.
Well, actually,
now, we’re kissing cousins.
Just to be
sure, should we do it some more?
So she ran and told
her father.
That is
the correct response, for all of us, when anything or anyone strange comes our
way. Run to our Father. Our Heavenly Father.
So, she runs
to her father. “Dad! Some stranger just kissed me…and it made him cry.” (checks
her breath one more time).
No, she
told dad that his long-lost sister’s son was at the well.
13 Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob
his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and
brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things.
See, the kiss was customary, not
weird.
Jacob
brought Laban up to speed.
14 And Laban said to
him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him for a month.
I can see
my sister in you. Surely, you’re my bone and my flesh; the family
resemblance is obvious.
Jacob
makes himself at home, pitches in, does his fair share of the chores. Days turn
to weeks, and before you know it a month goes by.
15 Then Laban said to
Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing?
Tell me, what should your wages be?”
Maybe room
and board, a monthly wage, or, perhaps a share in the increase of livestock?
16 Now Laban had two
daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was
Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and
appearance.
Wait.
Weren’t we talking about wages?
Jacob must
not be listening again, or, maybe he’s thinking about something else, or maybe someone
else.
18 Now Jacob loved
Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger
daughter.”
Laban
asked about wages for working, but Jacob was thinking about a woman for
wedding.
So, ever
ready to make a deal, he rolls his wages and a Bride Price into one.
A big one.
Seven years was a very generous, extravagant, offer.
19 And Laban said,
“It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another
man. Stay with me.”
So, was
that a, yes?
Did Laban
agree to the terms? That’s sort of a slippery vague answer. It implies one
thing, without really saying anything. He could’ve been a politician.
Jacob, the
heel grabbing supplanter might’ve just met his match.
And God’s
school of sowing and reaping begins.
20 So Jacob served seven
years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because
of the love he had for her.
Now, finally
Jacob shows some integrity.
Instead of
trying to finagle a short cut, he stayed the course, stuck to his word.
And he did
it joyfully, not whining and complaining, but with such great love, keeping his
eyes on the prize, so seven years of working and waiting seemed like just a few
days.
Girls,
ladies, that’s the kind of love you’re looking for. A man who loves you
so much, a man who respects you that much, and considers you so worthwhile,
that he will work and wait, with such joy that no matter how long it takes, it
only seems like a few days.
The guy
who says, “Oh baby, I love you so much that I just can’t wait” is a big fat
liar.
If he says
that, punch him in the face.
And then,
walk away knowing that he doesn’t love you, he loves himself, and wants
you, for his own selfish desires.
Guys,
dating our daughters, if you have a big fat black eye, next time we see you…
you were warned.
One more
thing. Heart check. How’s our attitude toward the delays in life?
Are we
honking if they don’t hit the gas the moment the light turns green?
Are we
doing life joyfully, not whining and complaining, but with such great love,
keeping our eyes on the Prize Christ Jesus, so seven years or seventy-seven
years of working and waiting seems like just a few days.
21 Then Jacob said to
Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
Okay,
Uncle Laban, it’s payday. Time for you to go from Uncle, to Father-in-law.
22 And Laban gathered
together all the men of the place and made a feast.
This
likely refers to a seven-day wedding feast.
The word
used for feast is, mishteh; a banquet, with drink, drank,
drinking in the definition.
Hiccup.
A little food,
a lot of booze.
23 Now it came to
pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob;
and he went in to her. 24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah
as a maid.
Do you see
anything wrong with this picture?
The father
deceived the son by swapping siblings.
Jacob
thought he was entering covenant with Rachel, but he couldn’t see,
and was deceived, and woke up married to Leah.
Do you see
anything right with this picture?
Galatians 6:7
Be not
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a (con)man sows, that shall he also reap.
Remember,
a little over seven years and 400 miles ago, Jacob the son, deceived his father
by swapping siblings.
Isaac
thought he was passing the Abrahamic covenant to Esau, but he couldn’t see and
was deceived and wound up giving it to Jacob.
But God knew
Jacob was really the right one.
And we’re
about to see that God knows Leah is really the right one, too.
25 So it came to pass
in the morning, that behold, it was Leah.
Imagine
the scene.
Finally,
after a seven-year engagement, seven years of working and waiting, you finally
spend the night of your dreams with the woman of your dreams, and in the
morning you open your eyes with a smile, and see lying beside you, also with a
smile… your sister in law? Leah?
Hi Jakey,
hubby wubby, want some breakfast baby?
Oh boy
what’d they put in that punch?
LABAN!
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?”
Jakey
baby’s having a taste of his own medicine for breakfast and it doesn’t look
like he likes it.
26 And Laban said,
“It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the
firstborn.
What are
you talking about my boy. It’s common knowledge the older daughter has to marry
first.
You
shouldn’t have slept with her if you disagreed.
Now it’s
too late. You made your bed. She’s your wife.
But, since
I’m such a fair and honest person, I’ll help you out…
27 Fulfill her week,
and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me
still another seven years.”
Listen to
this verse in the New Living Translation, it makes what Laban is saying pretty
clear:
But
wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too — provided
you promise to work another seven years for me.’
28 Then Jacob did so
and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29 And
Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30 Then Jacob also
went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with
Laban still another seven years.
Laban
married off two daughters for the price of one feast; in return he gets,
two excellent Bride Prices; fourteen years of labor from Jacob.
So, Jacob,
the con man was conned.
Whatsoever
a man sows, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7.
Laban
pulled a fast one. Jacob learned a lesson. Most importantly, God’s plan took
another step forward by Jacob marrying...
Leah.
With all
the superstars strutting the stage in this chapter, Patriarch Jacob, beauty
queen Rachel, smooth talking Laban… it’s easy to miss the real heroine,
standing quietly in the shadows, holding God’s plan.
This is
the love story of Leah.
31 When the Lord
saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
This is
the first time the Lord is mentioned in this chapter; and
it’s with the Lord looking at Leah.
We’ll hear
the Lord mentioned three more times, each time, from the lips of
Leah.
When the
Lord walks in a room He looks for the lonely, the unloved, the least likely,
and He opens their womb, to new Life. His Divine Eternal Purpose.
In this
room, He sees you, Leah.
32 So Leah conceived
and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has
surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”
Reuben
means, see or behold, a son.
Leah, the
first person to acknowledge the Lord, in this star-studded action-packed
chapter.
Dear Leah,
everyone might ignore you, consider you second best; but not the Lord, He sees
you dear Leah, He knows your hurt, those lonely tears, your sorrow, your affliction.
Oh that’s
good to hear, so now therefore my husband will love me.
Leah, Leah,
sorry, but that’s not how it works. You let the Lord work on your husband.
You
keep your eyes on the Lord, as He keeps His eyes on you.
33 Then she conceived
again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am
unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name
Simeon.
Simeon,
from Hebrew, shama, meaning, heard.
Leah
conceives again, and again points to the Lord.
Dear Leah,
the Lord not only sees your affliction, but hears the cry of your
heart.
Now, please
know for sure and certain dearest Leah, you are not only seen and heard,
but you are so very lovely, and oh so, loved.
Just
keep your eyes, and ears, on Jesus.
34 She conceived
again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached
to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called
Levi.
Levi, means attached, or joined.
Hey Leah,
listen up, didn’t you forget something? Where’s mention of the Lord?
You said, this
time my husband will become attached (joined, obliged), to
me, because I, have borne him my three sons.
Leah, it’s
not about you, and what you can do, or what you have done,
to make someone be obliged to you.
You cannot
make someone be obliged to love you, by your works or deeds.
Levi, from which will come the Levites;
the priests who attend to the tabernacle and then the temple, in the service of
the Lord.
They end
up going a bit sideways like Leah just did.
They too, start
thinking it’s all about me. About, about my work, my service, what I do, what I
did, so therefore you’re obliged to me.
Hogwash! That
is a religion of works. And it never works.
Dear Leah,
your heart doesn’t ache for religion, but relationship.
So, get
your eyes off yourself, off your works, off your fertility, off your husband,
off what you can do for your husband to make him love you.
Get your
eyes, and ears, and heart, back where they belong, on the Relationship Maker,
Your Loving Heavenly Father.
35 And she conceived
again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.”
Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Yes!
That’s it Leah. You win the heroine award of Genesis 29.
This time
with your eyes on the Prize, with no preconditions, no attachment to
circumstances, with no ulterior motives, now, you simply praise the Lord.
Well done
dear Leah.
You name
your son, Judah, which means praise. And he is the seed that leads to
the Seed, that blesses all people of the earth.
Well done,
dearest Leah!
Leah the
loner, the unloved, unwanted… yet, God chose her to bear half the tribes of
Israel, and Jacob’s only daughter, Dinah.
Just to
name a few, she gave us:
Issachar, the tribe honored for
understanding the times and knowing what Israel ought to do.
The Levites,
the tribe God chose to be His priests.
Judah, the one who gives cause to praise
the Lord. The seed that leads to the Seed, the Christ, the Messiah, our Savior
and Lord.
Leah, not
Rachel, was laid to rest in the same place as Jacob. In the cave of Machpelah,
purchased by Abraham nearly 4,000 years ago.
Today it’s
called the Tomb of the Patriarchs, the world’s most ancient Jewish site and
second holiest site; second only to the Temple Mount.
There
lies, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah.
Leah
leaves us her example, to do what she did, with our eyes on the Prize, with no
preconditions, attachments to circumstances, no ulterior motives, we simply,
humbly, boldly, PRAISE THE LORD!
Let’s
praise.
Thank
You, Lord for the joy, of talking to You. The honor of knowing You. Thank You for
loving us enough to die for us. We worship You, and long to live for You, to offer
our lives as a prayer and praise to You.
We love
You, forever and ever.
Amen.
Prayer
Requests:
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Genesis 29
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This
was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.
Thank
you for sharing.
