Lesson 63 - Jacob gets More Wives in Laban's Deceit.
Genesis: First Things First • Sermon • Submitted
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Jacob Gets Leah, Zilpah, Rachel and Bilhah 29:21-30
Jacob Gets Leah, Zilpah, Rachel and Bilhah 29:21-30
English Standard Version (Chapter 29)
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.
24 (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”
28 Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
The tables are turned, who is defrauding who?
This could be very confusing to the casual reader as to why Jacob did not get Rachel. Jacob gets hood winked by his father-in-law, his uncle. If we read ahead, we find that Jacob ends up having relations with all four women. If we think back on last week’s initial introduction of Jacob to Rachel, we remember that he did not pray before acting. This lack of prayer may characterize what is going to happen next. If we follow a strict timeline for Jacob’s life, we soon realize this seven year servitude is for his age of 78 through 85. Jacob is no spring chicken and maybe Rachel and Leah are older also. As we learn, he does not have problems pro-creating as he eventually has 12 kids. This is remarkable, wild, or both. These Old Testament guys are amazing. I did not say perfect, but they definitely are the Energizer Bunny.
One cannot help but think, how did he not know he was with the wrong woman and how did Leah put up with being on the short end of Jacob’s love? After all, he did not want her. Jacob the trickster gets out tricked by his father in law. Laban went to the trouble of calling in all of his peeps for a wedding feast and after that Jacob gets Leah for his wife instead of Rachel. Yikes! he doesn’t find out till the next morning. Jacob consummates the marriage to Leah and Laban gives a handmaid by the name of Zilpah to his daughter to be a servant. From what we have read before, these handmaids, produced children for the old man also. It does not seem to be a healthy home life, but as they say, it’s all they had. He wakes up and whoa! It’s Leah! Soo-prise, soo-prise, soo-prise.
Jacob takes the matter to Laban who falls back on the explanation that’s the way we do things around here, Leah was first! He is now promised Rachel if he serves Laban for another seven years (complete the week vs.27). Now he serves years for Rachel and he ages from 85 to 92. Oh my word. But Jacob did so and it seemed to go like a breeze. What’s 7 years when you’re in your 90’s? With the addition of Rachel, came another servant girl into the household, Bilhah. No matter how it looks for anyone involved, the servitude was basically for only one daughter, Rachel. I believe Laban sold his daughter Leah, short, but God used this to build his kingdom.
Laban quickly gives Rachel for another seven years of service, meaning the girls worked hard for dad. Jacob agreed they were worth the 14 years and did not demand what he had been promised because he himself was in the predicament of running away from home because of defrauding his brother. The commentary of Joseph Exell said that “ God often pays us in our own coin.” Just as Herod tried to trick the wise men, they left to go home another way. They turned off their GPS and no one could track them back home. Boom! God has the last say and proves to be a judicious banker and payer of bills when we leave our brethren to come up short.
That is the way of salvation. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
“The Wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
Payday is coming someday. We need to make sure our accounts are settled. They will be settled in heaven: Behold, I come quickly, hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Fraud and deceit will not make it into heaven without being dealt with. Be steady. Be true.Be Honest. The Lord will reward you, even if you have to take the loss here on earth
Leah Conceives 29:31-35
Leah Conceives 29:31-35
English Standard Version (Chapter 29)
31 When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
Childbearing wise, Rachel is left in the dust.
This is a very complicated home life. I imagine there are times when Rachel did not want to see Jacob. He may have loved Rachel, but spent a lot of time in her sisters bedroom.
Before we think too lowly of Leah, we see with a quick reading, that she is a progenitor of the Levitical priesthood, and the tribe of Judah (from where we get the Lion of the tribe of Judah.) Leah also gave Jacob his first born in the person of Reuben. The Lord was watching from above and could easily see that she was hated. At the same time, Jacob and Leah did not waste the seven years and built a family before he paid for Rachel. Leah had four sons before slowing down: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. And, as we rad onward in later chapters, there were sisters who have not been named, except Dinah.
Each child explains her plight with a little wordplay. Not only was Leah the “hated” one or the “tolerated” one. Jacob may have been viewed by Leah the same way. Reuben means” the Lord has seen my misery.” Simeon means “the Lord heard that I am not loved.” Levi means “my husband will become attached.” and Judah means “I will praise the Lord.” The fourth son is somewhat a vindication for her to endured an unloving husband who only was willing to get comfortable with her.
And so it goes, family relationships should never be taken lightly. Our wives and our children need to feel valued, or it can come back on us and we may with our own coin. God’s amazing grace does wondrous things for the family. Hearts are mended, lives restored, children return, marriages healed, new lives begun, children are brought forth, losses are paid, recompense is accepted, hands are shaken again, and hugs welcome back the wanderer. Nothing as sweet as the wonderful grace of Jesus that runs deeper than all my sin, can make things right today. That is just the family. What do you think he can do for the church?