November 15, Genesis 29
Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
- Genesis 29:1
A good narrator compresses vast distances and long periods of time into simple phrases to keep the story moving along and communicate the important details. Moses is generally understood to be God's penman for the Genesis account, and the Lord blessed him with that gift of brevity in such matters.
He compresses a journey of 500 miles into a short sentence. Later in the chapter he spans seven years of Jacob's life in just over a dozen words. He covers twenty complicated years of Jacob’s life among Laban's family in a few lines.
The Bible may not answer all our curious questions about the things it tell us, but it does supply all the details we need to know. If you think the Bible is a long book as it is, just think of the volume it would be if any more details were included!
Jacob's arrival in Haran evokes memories of Eliezer's visit decades earlier to find a wife for Isaac. Jacob's successful journey attests to God's faithfulness. Back at Bethel the Lord promised Jacob that he would be with him, help him and bring him safely home again. Surely that is why Jacob came directly to the right place and people.
I try not to talk much about coincidence or speak in terms of "it just so happened" about my own life. I want to give God, not luck, the glory for all my blessings. I need to trust him through all the experiences that seem not so good to keep his promise to make it all work together for my good. I don’t always understand the nature of the blessing, but I trust it is from him and for my good.
Was it "love at first sight" when Jacob saw Rachel? It seems that way, doesn't it? I don't think the kiss was a romantic one any more than Laban's kiss to Jacob was when he came out to meet him. It was the custom of the time, place and people to greet family and friends. It was a staple of Jewish culture that carried over into the New Testament church in its early days.
There's a cinematic quality to Rachel's appearance in the story. Jacob is talking to the young shepherds who are already lining up for the evening watering time. Then Rachel appears with her father's sheep. Jacob sees her, and in a display of chivalry rolls away the stone covering the well and waters her sheep. Then he greets her with that family kiss and weeps tears of joy as he tells her his identity. Laban comes out and gladly receives his nephew into his household. After a month, he probably knew why Jacob was there and that he was smitten with Rachel. I don't doubt that the "market value" of both his daughters was in mind as he made the proposal for Jacob’s wages for his service. Jacob offered to work seven years for Rachel's hand in marriage. Laban agreed, and probably already had the plan in mind to get at least double that time out of Jacob.
We'd like to know more about the deceitful circumstances when Laban substituted Leah for Rachel on the couple's wedding night. It must have been really dark or she must have kept on her veil because Jacob was unpleasantly surprised the next morning. Laban may have concocted the excuse about the custom of the firstborn being married first, but he then proposed a contract extension to Jacob. After Leah's honeymoon week he could also marry Rachel, for only seven more years of labor. Deceitful Jacob had been beaten at his own game of deceit. But he would stay and more than even the score when he left the country with Laban's daughters, grandchildren and wealth two decades later.
Leah may not have been Jacob's choice or favorite, but God blessed her with the strength to bear six of the twelve sons whose families would become the nation of Israel. The word about Leah's eyes being "weak" may mean soft or tender. Her eyes may have been her most attractive feature. Jacob was attracted to Rachel's physical beauty and treated her as his favorite. This marital arrangement would bring Jacob and his family lots of grief before the story ends. But at the last, it was Leah and not Rachel who was buried in the family plot beside her husband. Leah's son Judah would be father of the dominant tribe that would remain as the nation after the divided kingdom. Through him, the great king David would be born, and ultimately Christ would come, descended from Jacob through Leah, not Rachel.
This compact, beautiful story sets the stage for what lies ahead as God works and waits through centuries and generations to send Messiah. The promised one would arrive at just the right time.
Instead of complaining about what we don't know, let's be thankful for what God has revealed to us. Let's wonder at what is here, learn what we need to know and stand in awe of God at work.
Copyright © 2021 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—November 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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