Jacob Meets Rachel
Genesis 29:1-35 “Jacob resumed his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. He looked and saw a well in the field, and there by it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well. When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
“My brothers,” Jacob asked the shepherds, “where are you from?”
“We are from Haran,” they answered.
“Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor?” Jacob asked.
“We know him,” they replied.
“Is he well?” Jacob inquired.
“Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
“Look,” said Jacob, “it is still broad daylight; it is not yet time to gather the livestock. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”
But they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. He told Rachel that he was Rebekah’s son, a relative of her father, and she ran and told her father.
When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
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, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. (Some sources say that Leah had weak eyes.) 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.”
When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” (Reuben means Look, a son and also sounds like the Hebrew for He has seen my misery.)
Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon. (Simeon probably means “one who hears.”)
Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. (Levi sounds like the Hebrew for being attached or feeling affection for.)
And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. (Praise) Then Leah stopped having children.
Anyone who thinks polygamy is a great idea should study the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah carefully! Jacob falls instantly in love with Rachel; however, Rachel’s older sister Leah has eye problems. Perhaps Leah squints or has a chronic conjunctivitis or even trachoma. Leah is probably a very nice girl; however, in a culture where women may be veiled apart from their eyes, it is the eyes men look at first, and Leah is doomed to remain an old maid. That’s when tricky Uncle Laban comes up with a genius plan. Laban agrees to give Rachel to Jacob as a wife, but after the wedding celebration when Jacob is probably drunk, it’s Leah with whom Jacob has sex and not Rachel. When Jacob wakes up in the morning, he’s horrified to find Leah sharing his bed. Now not only does Jacob have a hangover but he also has a squinty-eyed wife and Rachel is still out there for someone else to marry.
Jacob winds up serving Laban seven years for each girl, or a total of fourteen years. So far Laban is coming out way ahead of the game. God favors Leah with four sons because He knows she is the unfavorite wife. Rachel, meanwhile, remains barren. In the child-bearing sweepstakes, Rachel is falling way behind, and this is a big deal. Women in polygamous marriages frequently are valued depending on the number of children they have borne successfully. Woe betide a woman who miscarries or who is barren! Jacob still loves Rachel more, but he might be getting a bit frustrated with her lack of progeny.
Does God love Leah more than Rachel? No. God loves both of them equally; however, God knows that if Leah does not bear children, Jacob might isolate her or reduce her food allowance so that she is virtually starving. Rachel, on the other hand, is in no danger of mistreatment.
So far, the description of Jacob’s marriage doesn’t sound very peaceful, and things are about to heat up further. We might ask why God is allowing Jacob to marry both sisters. God wants there to be twelve tribes of Israel and the sons born to these two women are the foundations for those tribes. Why twelve? Only God knows the ultimate answer to that question.
One important lesson to draw from the story of Jacob and his family is that God will use anyone who yields himself/herself to Him. God isn’t worried about our frailties or our shortcomings; He knows them better than we do ourselves. But God can overcome any of our failings, provided we will allow Him to do so. And when we yield ourselves to God, we will have perfect peace.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we praise You for using us despite our shortcomings. Help us to yield ourselves completely to You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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