By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
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Genesis 29:16–30
Jacob’s Proposal (16–20)
Uncle Laban brought up the subject of wages with Jacob: “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing?” This introduction of wages was followed by an ominous revelation.
Laban had two daughters, Leah, the older, and Rachel, the younger. The older-younger sibling conflict introduced here is ominous, reminding Jacob of the misery between him and his older brother Esau. Jacob’s past was catching up with him.
Laban’s older daughter, Leah, had “weak” eyes. Her eyes lacked a fire or sparkle or glow. On the other hand, Rachel, the younger daughter, was a knockout in Jacob’s estimation. And we are told that Jacob loved Rachel so passionately he was willing to work seven years for her hand in marriage. The going dowry price was three or four years, but Jacob’s seven years seemed like only a few days because of his love for Rachel.
Rachel was the true love in Jacob’s life, despite the fact that he would father children by Leah and the two wives’ female slaves. Even on his deathbed Jacob commented about his sorrow when Rachel had died. His heart for Rachel never waned.
Laban’s Deception (21–24)
For the first time Jacob was the object of deception. The similarity between what Laban did to Jacob and what Jacob had done to Isaac is remarkable. Jacob was getting his just desserts.
It is clear from Scripture that Jacob’s deceptive schemes for obtaining the blessing did not meet with the Lord’s approval. Through Jacob’s scheming God’s will had been accomplished. The writer, however, is intent on pointing out that the schemes were not of God’s design.
Instead of the one woman he loved, Jacob found himself married to two women and also involved with their female slaves.
Twelve sons and one daughter would be born to the four women. Through Leah and her slave Zilpah, eight of the twelve tribes would come. Though unloved by Jacob, Leah would be the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Despised Leah was the hereditary mother of the kingly tribe of Judah and the priestly tribe of Levi. Her offspring included Moses, David and Jesus Christ. God’s work goes on and even thrives amid human failure.
Jacob must have wondered if God was still the God of Jacob. The divine stairway was still there, and the Lord was keeping him. Jacob, however, did not escape the consequences of his own sins. God had brought the arch-deceiver into the life of the great patriarch-deceiver so that Jacob’s sin might be displayed before his eyes.
His nemesis was an instrument in the hands of God to shape and transform Jacob’s heart. Jacob was going to be changed over a period of time. He would become Israel, a prince of God.
Seven More Years (25–30)
When Jacob awoke to the morning glow of the sun illuminating his tent, Jacob was horrified to discover that he had actually married Leah. She was now his wife. There was no reversing the consummation. The deceiver had been deceived. He must have felt betrayed, embarrassed and angry.
He confronted Laban. “Why then have you deceived me?” The verb “deceived” is the same stem used to describe Jacob’s deception of Esau when he stole Esau’s blessing (Gen. 27:35).
Having been deceived, Jacob agreed to work for Laban another seven years for Rachel. He was allowed to marry her after one week, but he was still indebted to Laban for seven more years.
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