Preaching the Word
Preaching the Word
Genesis 29:15-30 - Love, Labor, and Deceit - The Mysteries of God's Word
Ever wondered how love, labor, and deception intertwine in one of Genesis' most captivating narratives? Today, we promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics and cultural context at play in Genesis, chapter 29. We'll explore Jacob's fervent love for Rachel, his offer of seven years of labor, and Laban's cunning tactics that turn this love story into a complex tale of dedication and deceit.
Discover how Jacob's strong desire for Rachel leads him into an agreement with the shrewd Laban, only to face an unexpected twist. This episode promises a rich exploration of Jacob marriages to Leah and Rachel. Don't miss out on this in-depth analysis of one of the Bible’s most intriguing chapters!
Email: nathan@nathandietsche.com
Today we're going to be looking at Genesis, chapter 29, starting at verse 15. But before we do, let's summarize the last 14 verses. Jacob had gone on a journey to Haran and he had just come in to the land of Paddan Aram in northwest Mesopotamia. While he's there, he meets some shepherds next to a well, and shortly after Rachel, his cousin, comes to the well. Both he and Rachel are excited to see one another and Rachel runs and gathers her father, and her father comes running to meet Jacob. Then Rachel's father, laban, takes Jacob in as family and Jacob stays with him for a month, picking up in verse 15,.
Speaker 1:In verse 15, we learn that during that first month, perhaps even right away, jacob began to pitch in and help Laban with the daily chores. Perhaps the hard work of a young man began to intimidate Laban, or perhaps there was a sense of cultural shame because Laban hadn't come to an agreement with Jacob for what he should be paid after the traditional four days. In any case, laban acknowledges Jacob needs to be paid for the work that he's doing Verse 16. Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Here we learn that Laban had two daughters, leah and Rachel, and it says that Leah's eyes were weak. There's quite a bit of discussion amongst commentators about how the weak eyes should be understood. The Hebrew word translated weak here is most often translated tender. It also means soft, gentle, delicate or even inexperienced. Considering the contrast with how Rachel is described with her beauty in her shapely appearance and her countenance, it would seem that Leah didn't have that sparkle in her eyes that Rachel had. Leah was probably gentler and kept more to herself. It says that Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. The Hebrew word for beautiful also can be translated handsome, lovely or attractive, and the word for form here refers to the beauty of her figure, the beauty of her face, her physical appearance, and finally, the word appearance refers to how her beauty is seen by people when they look upon her. So Rachel's appearance to people around her was that she was a beautiful young woman. It would seem that from the outside Rachel had all of the physical attributes that a man would desire.
Speaker 1:In verse 18, we read Jacob loved Rachel and he said I will serve you for seven years. For your younger daughter, rachel, laban said it is better that I give her to you than I should give her to any other man. Stay with me. So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love that he had for her. In verse 18, we read that Jacob loved Rachel. Now, this word for love here means to have one's heart inclined strongly towards someone or something. This word for love refers to the desires of the heart, which are often based in human lusts rather than in godliness. Jacob loved Rachel because of her beauty.
Speaker 1:We might say that Jacob fell in love with Rachel. For example, in Genesis 25-28, this same word for love is used when Isaac loved Esau because of the delicious meals that Esau was able to make with his hunting. It could be best said that Jacob strongly desired Rachel, and Jacob says I'll serve you for seven years. It was customary at this time for a husband to give the bride's father a substantial gift of money, a dowry, but at this time Jacob didn't have a large amount of money to offer. Instead, jacob offers seven years of labor to Laban for the hand of Rachel. This is a substantial offer, but Jacob, in his desire for Rachel, was eager to make a deal for her hand. But Jacob, who deceived his brother Esau because Esau desired a bowl of red stew, is about to be deceived by Laban for an extra seven years of labor. When Laban says it's better that I should give her to you than I should give her to another man, he's creating a good faith agreement for Rachel, but he's not actually making a formal agreement. As we see with Laban, he's very shifty in how he acts and he has every intention of manipulating Jacob for free labor for as long as he can. Those seven years that Jacob worked for Rachel seemed to him but a few days, because Jacob was so infatuated with Rachel that those first seven years passed by as if it were just a short time passed by as if it were just a short time.
Speaker 1:In verse 21, we read Then Jacob said to Laban Give me my wife that I may go into her, for my time is completed. So after serving his full seven years, jacob tells Laban to give him his wife. I'm sure he spent many days thinking of his future with Rachel and the time had finally come where he could be with her Verse 22,. So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob. And he went into her. Laban gave his female servant, zilpah, to his daughter Leah to be his servant. And in the morning, behold, it was Leah. And Jacob said to Laban what is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why, then, have you deceived me? In verse 22, we see that Laban had gathered all of the people of the place to make a feast.
Speaker 1:The central part of a Hebrew wedding ceremony is a large feast or a banquet that brings together people that are close to the family to celebrate a wedding. The Hebrew word mishte signifies a feast of drinking. Mishte is often translated drinking in the Old Testament, or wine drinking. This type of feast described in the Old Testament implies the consumption of wine, and we should assume that this was typical of the wedding ceremony spoken of here. In verse 23, we read but in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob.
Speaker 1:After much celebration, and after it had gotten dark, laban took Leah into Jacob. When we first read this, this can seem like how could he possibly mistake Leah for Rachel? But the deception of Laban was possible for multiple reasons. One, it was dark. Two, it was customary for the bride to wear a veil that enveloped her whole person. Three, leah was an accomplice with Laban in the deception. Four, jacob was anxious and had anticipated his time with Rachel for seven years now. And finally five, jacob had been celebrating, likely with wine, much of the day.
Speaker 1:In verse 25, we read that in the morning. Behold, it was Leah. So, after the marriage celebration the day before and after being with whom he thought would be the woman of his dreams, the night before Jacob wakes up and behold, there's Leah. Now we can only imagine what's going through Jacob's mind at this point. The scripture doesn't even give us any details on how Jacob reacted to Leah, who is obviously part of this deception. But Jacob goes to Laban and confronts him. He says what is this you've done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me? Verse 26, laban said it is not done so in our country to give the younger before the firstborn Complete the week of this one and I will give you the other also, in return for serving me another seven years. Jacob did so and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter, rachel to be his wife. Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter, rachel, to be a servant. So Jacob went into Rachel also and he loved Rachel more than Leah and served Laban for another seven years.
Speaker 1:In verse 26, we read Laban's continued manipulation and excuses. Laban says that it's not done in our country to give the younger before the firstborn. Here we see Laban is making excuses. He is attempting to justify his evil actions and manipulation of Jacob. Was there such a custom in his country? Maybe, maybe not. However, it wouldn't justify Laban breaking a good faith contract with Jacob, especially after the whole wedding feast that was meant to celebrate Jacob's marriage. To Rachel, laban says complete the week of this one and I will give you the other. Also, here we see that Jacob was asked to complete the week for the marriage of Leah before Laban would give him his other daughter, rachel. This shows us a couple of things. First and foremost, it shows how Laban was a pagan and idol worshiper, using traditions, even godly traditions, to take advantage of people rather than to worship the one true God who instituted marriage to be a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman. The second thing this shows us is that the Hebrew tradition of a week-long marriage ceremony extended all the way back into ancient times. Laban said complete the week of this one and I will give you the other.
Speaker 1:Also, you might say Laban had Jacob trapped by his own desires for Rachel and Laban was about to take full advantage of Jacob. As we think about this, jacob could not have completed the week with Leah. He could have told Laban no, you have deceived me, I'm not going to complete this week of marriage ceremony with Leah. But he didn't. Jacob allowed his strong feelings for Rachel, who was not yet his wife, to bring him under bondage to Laban for another seven years. In verse 28, we read Jacob did so and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter, rachel, to be his wife. Surely Jacob felt trapped by Laban's deception after having served seven full years in a good faith contract for Rachel. Then, after a customary feast and celebration for a marriage for which Jacob believed was for Rachel, laban brings Leah to him. As we look at this larger picture, jacob was trapped by his own sinful weakness. Jacob's infatuation and desire for Rachel, when she wasn't yet his wife, had developed to such a point that he coveted her as his wife and would get her at any cost. And now Jacob agrees to work for Laban yet another seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand. The notation that Jacob did complete the week of Leah and then was given Rachel shows that there was only a seven-day period between his marriage to Leah and his marriage to Rachel, and then Jacob had two wives.
Speaker 1:In no way does Jacob's marriage to two wives promote polygamy. Polygamy is a perversion of God's created order and marriage is designed to be in a covenant, lifelong union between one man and one woman. The first mention of polygamy is in Genesis 4.19, when Lamech, a vengeful and hardened man, took two wives. While God allows for this dysfunction of two wives to occur prior to the new covenant because the hearts of the people were hard, jacob and his family will see great trouble throughout the generations from these unnatural arrangements that are contrary to the original order of God. In verse 30, we see that Jacob went into Rachel also and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served Laban for another seven years. The last thing we want to note from verse 30 is that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Jacob's desire to be with Rachel over those seven years has now developed into a strong favoritism for Rachel over Leah, and we'll see how this begins to play out next week. Join me, then, and God bless you this week.