Genesis 29:14 – 30 “Then Laban declared, “You are indeed my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month, Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
Now Laban had two daughters; the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. Leah had no sparkle in her eyes,a but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to another. Stay here with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her. Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast. But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant. When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”
Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older. Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.” And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant. Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.”
God has kept his promises to Jacob by preserving him and guiding him to his mother’s family. While heading eastward, Jacob encounters a group of shepherds, who inform him that he has arrived at Haran, the city where his uncle Laban lives. More than that, Rachel, Laban’s daughter, is just coming to water her father’s sheep. Jacob identifies himself, helps water the sheep, and then accompanies Rachel to her father’s house. By now, Jacob is already in love with Rachel; when Laban asks Jacob how he wishes to be paid, Jacob asks for Rachel as his wife.
But trickery evidently runs in the family! Rachel is drop – dead gorgeous; however, her older sister Leah “has no sparkle in her eyes.” Perhaps Leah has cataracts or perhaps she simply isn’t quite as pretty as Rachel. Perhaps Leah has spent her entire life being compared unfavorably to Rachel. You can imagine the gossip in Haran: “Well! As for those two girls, they barely look like sisters! How Leah can be so plain and how Rachel can be so beautiful is something I SIMPLY don’t understand!” Perhaps one venomous old lady was cackling to her friends as they carried water and Leah overheard them. All we know is that Leah is plainer and less attractive than her sister. At this point, Laban has evidently given up on getting a husband for Leah, so he seizes this opportunity to trick Jacob and marry off Leah at the same time. Poor Leah!
Jacob wakes up the morning after his wedding night to find Leah in bed with him! Up to this point, Jacob might have had a good opinion of himself; after all, he’s gotten away with both his brother’s birthright and blessing. But Laban is older and trickier. Now Jacob finds himself as the victim of someone else’s manipulations, and there’s not a thing he can do about it. To get Rachel as a wife, Jacob serves Laban for another seven years.
By now you might be wondering how this story can illustrate God’s forgiveness. But look at the situation:
1. God helps Jacob to find his mother’s family, no mean feat in those days.
2. God allows Jacob to meet Rachel immediately, so that Jacob will have an incentive to work for Laban.
3. God uses Laban’s manipulations to keep Jacob in this situation. God is not being unkind to Jacob, but Jacob needs to learn how it feels to be manipulated and that there are always consequences.
4. God is using this situation to mature Jacob, not to destroy him.
5. God is already laying the groundwork for what will become the twelve tribes of Israel. God is always doing using situations to accomplish far more than we can possibly guess.
APPLICATION: Perhaps you are wondering if God has abandoned you. Your job has evaporated, or your family is having problems. Perhaps you can identify with Jacob wandering out there in the wilderness and hoping he is on the road that will take him to his longed – for destination. Perhaps you feel that God must be punishing you for something. Your first step should be to pray and ask God to show you any mistakes you might have made. God is a good Father and He does not play guessing games with His children. If God shows you something you should confess, ask Him to forgive you and get that out of the way first. Next, ask God to show you if there is anything in your situation that you have been ignoring that might provide a way out of your problems. Remember that when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, God asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” All Moses had was his shepherd’s staff, but God used that staff to do miracles. Many times, we expect that God will provide something big and flashy while meanwhile, God has something modest that we have been overlooking. Be assured that as soon as you confess any sin and really mean it, God will forgive you.
PRAYER: Father God, this morning many of us feel confused. The things we counted on have vanished. Lord, if we are cherishing any pet sins, show us and help us to turn away from those sins and to confess them to you. Thank you that you have promised to forgive us. And Lord, please help us to re-examine our situations so that if you have already made provision in some small way, we will not overlook those things. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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