Not The One but Two

Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my time is completed. I want to sleep with her." So Laban invited all the men of the place to a feast. That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her, and Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave, when morning came, there was Leah! Sp he said to Laban, " what is this you have done to me? Wasn't it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?"

Laban answered, "it is not the custom in this place to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me." And Jacob did just that. Genesis 29:21-28

What a travesty! Jacob would have needed to have been drunk not to notice the eyes. For it was the eyes that drew him to Rachel. The trickster had been tricked and compelled to work seven more years for Rachel, in all he would work 14 years for Rachel. She must have been worth it.

How did Rachel feel about her father's deception? Would she have been mad at him? I imagine! Would she have been mortified that her older sister would have the first part of the one she loved? I can just see Laban having to move Rachel away from the feast so that her wailing would not be heard.

Or, was she a woman of faith? Did she know that her love would be hers no matter what tricks her father employed? Would she contain her grief and go to God? I wonder.

How did Jacob feel about being bound another seven years? Did he realise that he had been the double deceiver and now he was doubly paying for what he desired. Jacob deceived his brother Esau out of his birthright and then his blessing. And now, coincidentally, he is paying double for his wife.

Interesting isn't it that what we sow we reap. I wonder if Jacob understood this? I hope he had the depth to understand: what you do to others will be done to you.