— by Victor Fawole
Jacob is just coming off a high spiritual experience of God’s special revelation. God has directly pronounced the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant on him. He now has God’s promises of His Presence, His Prosperity, and His Preservation. One would expect that his life would now be a smooth journey of progress and spiritual growth. Now, it’s time for him to choose a marriage partner. Let us journey together…
1. THE MEETING
Gen. 28:10-11 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
Jacob had been instructed to marry one of the daughters of Laban (Gen. 28:2). So, he got the emotional and mental alertness when he met Laban’s daughter (Rachel). He expressed a passionate display of emotion. If I were Rachel, I’d be surprised that a man I had never met before just greeted me, kissed me, then cried out and wept. He was simply overawed at how God’s providentially arranged such a divine appointment. There is joy when we remember our past wretchedness viz-a-viz our present realities in Christ. There is a joy of the Spirit that we enjoy when we come to God. In fact, our union with Christ is marked with joy (Rom. 14:17).
The greatness of Jacob’s love for the beautiful Rachel was emphasized three times in this chapter (v. 18, 20, 30), and the Bible is very loud on God’s love for us. And we must, like Rachel, respond well and receive His love.
2. THE MAPPING
Gen. 28:16-18 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
Jacob’s love for Rachel wasn’t a mirage. She was a beautiful young lady, with sparkling eyes, and full of life. Leah, on the other hand, had dull eyes and was unattractive. Out of love for Rachel, Jacob chose to labour for seven years as dowry payment for her marriage. He was clear that he wanted Rachel – Laban’s “younger daughter”. Laban could have explained the cultural problem with this arrangement to Jacob. This was the time he could have stated the condition that Leah must be married first. Well, was it a case of being paid in one’s coins?
Just as Jacob laboured out of love for Rachael, Jesus also laboured and died for His bride – the Church (Rom. 5:8). Jacob gave up his son status and became a servant. Jesus also gave up His divine status to die a humble servant for us (Phil. 2:7-8). Hallelujah!
3. THE MASKING
Gen. 28:23-25 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
Behold, it was Leah! Hmm… On the wedding night, Laban tricked Jacob by sending Leah into his tent. It was easy for Laban to deceive Jacob when we consider that:
- According to the customs of those days, a bride would be veiled until she was finally alone with her groom for honeymoon.
- Jacob was probably filled with alcohol at the ceremony.
- Leah was clearly a willing party to the deception.
Leah pretended to be Rachel the same way Jacob pretended to be Esau. She probably loved Jacob secretly. It could be that she considered it her one chance to get a husband. One could imagine how Jacob felt, and much more, how Rachel felt. The masking led Jacob to another seven years of labour for Rachel.
4. THE MALTREATING
Gen. 28:31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
God’s compassionate love for Leah is touching and worthy of note. Husbands have a duty to love and care for their wives. But when they neglect their wives’ needs, God can bring comfort and blessing to her and meet her needs. Although Leah’s husband and sister didn’t extend love to her, God extended love and grace to her. God blessed her with four sons:
- REUBEN: “The LORD has surely LOOKED on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me…”
- SIMEON: “Because the Lord hath HEARD I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also…”
- LEVI: “Now this time will my husband be JOINED unto me, because I have born him three sons…”
- JUDAH: “Now will I PRAISE the Lord…”
Leah named her children to reflect the pain and longing in her heart. This is symbolic for us. God “saw” and “heard” our human depravity, came as a man to “join” us and shared in our human nature, in order to set us free. And like Leah did, our response is to “praise” God for loving us even when we were unlovable.
Hallelujah!
Grace to you, Church!
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