Genesis 29:31-35

You truly have to feel sorry for Leah! In pulling the switch on Jacob, Laban has set her up for a lot of heartache, and he has set both of his daughters against each other. We see here clearly, though, that God remains sovereign over all!

When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”


She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.


Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.


She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. (Gen 29:31-35)

It is evident that God is in control of fertility! He opens and closes wombs, as we’ll see throughout this story. I think this must be the most difficult area in which to trust God if you are struggling with infertility. If this is your area of heartache, please know that God sees and understands your sorrow. While I never had this problem, I have watched so many beloved friends and my younger daughter, Emmy, go through this, so I know how very hard it is. However, I can tell you that Emmy, having finally adopted Penelope after seven years of wanting and waiting, would be the first to tell you that the wait was so worth it. She wouldn’t trade a minute of it, because she knows, without a doubt, that she was meant to be Penelope’s mother!

We can see in the above verses that what Leah is REALLY wanting is the love of Jacob. With each child, she hopes that she will finally have his affection. She names her firstborn Reuben, which means he has seen my misery, because she knows the LORD has heard her cries, and she breathes the hope, “Surely my husband will love me now.” Don’t you agonize with her?

Then, when the second son is born, she names him Simeon, meaning one who hears, because, she feels that, again, God has heard her. She seems to see this child as her consolation for not being loved. Is she becoming resigned to the fact that Jacob will not ever feel for her the way he does about Rachel?

When Levi (meaning attached), her third son, is born, she is seems ready to settle for Jacob feeling just some kind of attachment - and she sees her sons as that tether. But note the change when her fourth son is born: “This time I will praise the LORD.” Finally, she is looking to God for the joy and love Jacob will never give her! “Then she stopped having children.” PHEW!!! How much is enough? It took four sons before she finally realized her blessings! It seems to me that she was missing the joy of motherhood, because she was always focused on what she lacked (Jacob’s love), rather than what she had. Oh my! Can we relate to that at all? Don’t we all know someone like that? Haven’t we all been that person at one time or another?  Maybe even now you are struggling because you are lacking something you desperately want:  a spouse, a job, a grandchild, a house, a better weight, whatever...

This is the tyranny of discontentment! Paul said he had learned to be content in ALL circumstances. This was the secret of his joy in prison (Phil 4:10-12)!  In 1 Timothy 6:6 he says, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” When we are constantly looking for something else, we fail to appreciate what we currently have, and we deny the goodness of God in our lives. I am not judging Leah in this. Her situation was certainly a difficult one, but by keeping her focus on Jacob instead of God, she was robbed of joy and let a root of bitterness settle in. I’m guessing this also made her a fairly unpleasant person to be around.  Are people tired of hearing you whine?  Are YOU tired of hearing you whine???  Praise God in ALL things - things you have and things you don't have! And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)

We’ll note tomorrow that Rachel, who had all of Jacob’s devotion and undying love, was nevertheless dissatisfied with her life. The grass is always greener...

 

Genesis 29:14-30

Before we move forward with this story I’m going to remind you what Laban said to Jacob in verse 14: “You are my own flesh and blood.” Now, while this was certainly true, since Laban was Jacob’s uncle, I think there is more to this statement. I think Laban senses a kinship with Jacob; he sees himself in Jacob - and this could have been a warning for Jacob!

I do believe that Laban was expecting the same gifts from Jacob that his family had received from Isaac, but apparently Jacob came without anything. After staying with his uncle for a month, during which time Jacob had apparently been working for Laban for free, Laban suggests a more equitable arrangement, and allows Jacob to name his wages. It must have been apparent to Laban that Jacob was head over heels for Rachel, and he was determined to get something from Jacob:

Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”
Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. (Gen 29:16-20)

I looked up the meaning of the name Leah, and it can mean weary, grieved, or offended or psychological or physical weariness. The most negative meaning found is cow ! The positive meaning given is delicate. It seems clear that whatever was wrong with Leah’s eyes, whether they just lacked sparkle or life or were truly plain, they were nothing when compared to the beauty of her younger sister. In fairness to Jacob, he was already in love with Rachel before he ever saw Leah, so he had not made that comparison first.

So, Jacob eagerly works his seven years, then rightfully expects his reward. Unfortunately, Laban has another plan. Instead of the lovely Rachel, it turns out that, after his wedding night, Jacob learns he has married the wrong daughter!

So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter as her maidservant.


When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”


Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” (vs. 22-27)

Jacob must have been beside himself! He had to work another seven years for the love of his life! Beth Moore points out that when Laban mentioned the custom of taking care of the firstborn daughter before the younger, it is probable that Jacob was reminded of his own position compared to Esau, and how he had tricked Esau out of his birthright as firstborn. The tables had turned on him! Beth also reminds us that the facts of the polygamy practiced by Jacob does not imply God’s blessing on this practice. God’s Word is very clear that monogamy is His plan (Beth cites Gen. 2:24; Matt 19:4-6; and Eph. 5:31). In fact, we’ll see tomorrow how having four wives is anything but a blessing!

Jacob and Laban were the match made in heaven! God taught Jacob so much about himself by what he observed in Laban! Don’t you find that God often puts us with people who struggle with the same weaknesses we have in order to make a point with us? It’s almost like aversion therapy. Maybe if we see the obnoxious characteristics of ourselves in others, we will be moved to seek change!

Off to work - tomorrow we’ll see the sorrow brought on by these marriages. . .

 

Genesis 29:2-14

Today’s story is a funny one! Jacob reached a place where there were three flocks of sheep with their shepherds shepherds gathered around a well. The opening of the well is covered by a large stone (probably to protect the water from pollution??). Jacob begins to question the shepherds - first about whether or not they know his uncle, Laban, then about their practices as a shepherds:

Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?”


“We’re from Haran,” they replied.


He said to them, “Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”


“Yes, we know him,” they answered.


Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”


“Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”


“Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”


“We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”


While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. (Gen 29:4-10)

We are performing our class play this morning, and reading this section cracks me up, because it sounds just like a scene from a play: “Oh, look! Here comes the beautiful lady now!” :) Note that Jacob doesn’t suggest the moving of the stone until he sees Rachel. I’m wondering if he wanted to get the others out of the way quickly, so he could be alone with Rachel. . . Remember that Jacob was not the athletic jock of the family. In fact, having been the mama’s boy for so many years, he probably was fairly wimpy! And the three shepherds together had not been able to move the stone, which is why they were waiting for more shepherds before they had enough manpower to roll it away (or maybe they had been lollygagging waiting for the beautiful Rachel to show up). But one look at Rachel, and Jacob all of a sudden develops superhuman strength! The LORD had promised to be with Him, and here He gives Jacob the muscle power to show off for Rachel!

When Isaac had seen Rebekah at the well, SHE was the one who watered the sheep. But in this scene it is Jacob who does the watering! It seems he was smitten! And then he does something truly bold:

Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father. (vs. 11-12)

Here’s a case of “kiss and tell!” Rachel races to tell her father about the strong stranger who turns out to be her cousin!

As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” (vs. 13-14)

Now, Jacob must be thinking that surely the LORD is with him, and is about to grant him his heart’s desire on the spot. Laban seems excited to meet the young man - and why not? He remembers the last visit from this side of the family - he remembers the expensive gifts! This could be a bonanza for him! Jacob has just met his match in scheming! So, while Jacob’s expectation is for immediate answer to his prayers - he’s about to learn patience through a very long wait!! We’ll look at that next week.