Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’ So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife. My time is completed.’ But when evening came, [Laban] took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 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.’ ” (v16,18,20-21a,23,25-27)
Jacob the deceiver finally met his match, his uncle Laban. Laban pulls a bait and switch, tricking Jacob into marrying his eldest daughter Leah first, and then continuing to labor another 7 years (14 years total) before being allowed to marry Rachel.
It seems deceit really runs in these families – Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and from the other side of the family as well, Rebekah and Laban. Everyone is trying to trick everyone else in order to get their own way (or worse, fulfill God’s promises on their own terms under their own strength). This is beginning to sound like a soap opera.
And it gets even more dramatic – Leah, who was not loved by Jacob, has four boys hoping that with each additional child she will gain Jacob’s affection. After all, v31 says Rachel is barren (at the moment) and Leah was made fertile by God because she was unloved and God had mercy on her. So Leah keeps having children hoping to earn the love of Jacob (sadly, it doesn’t seem to work). And this is only the beginning of the soap opera… stay tuned.
All I can say at this point is that God is a truly merciful and forgiving God – these families, who could monopolize an entire season of Dr. Phil, were God’s chosen people. This says a lot more about God than it does about us – He is willing to forgive any transgression if we simply come to him in true repentance and do our best to follow Him.
Father God, I know I’ve made some poor choices in life. I recognize that not everything I have done is in accordance with your moral will. I praise you that despite my transgressions, you have forgiven me through Jesus taking my penalty on the cross. Father, please forgive me, I did not know what I was doing. Please lead me now, in the direction Your Spirit wishes me to go. Please, teach me how to obey, for I do not know how. Please teach me how to love You with all of my heart, soul, strength, and mind so that I my love my neighbor rather than plot evil schemes against them. Please lead me down the straight and narrow path of righteousness.
~ Conqueror in Training