Genesis 29:14-30

Jacob

Jacob Marries Rachel and Leah

 

29:14 After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month,

 

15 Laban said to him, "Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be."

 

16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

 

17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful.

 

18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."

 

19 Laban said, "It's better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me."

 

20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

 

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her."

 

22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.

 

23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her.

 

24 And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter as her maidservant.

 

25 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?"

 

26 Laban replied, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.

 

27 Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work."

 

28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.

 

29 Laban gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.

 

30 Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Jacob works 14 years in order to marry Leah and Rachel

Ahhh... The power of love!! Jacob worked for 14 years just because he was in love with Rachel and wanted to marry her.

Would you use up 14 years of your life for the love of a beautiful woman? Wait ... Don't answer that! d:-)

Back to the story ...

As presented in the story of Jacob, the custom in those days was to present the bride's family with a dowry which was a compensation to the family as replacement for the loss of a daughter. Women performed valuable services and the family was financially hurt by the loss of these services.

Jacob was without riches so did not have a dowry in money or property so agreed to "work it off" in a sense to pay Laban the dowry.

Working long and hard for something we really want is not a new idea. Some things are worth waiting for and the end result is more happiness and a fuller life.

Patience is unnatural in these days of the Internet and instant gratification but if you can just wait a little longer good things will come your way.

A twist to the story is the deception and trick that Laban played on Jacob.

Jacob was fighting mad when he learned how Laban had tricked him into working seven years for a woman he did not care about but still agreed, for Rachel's sake and for the sake of keeping with God's plan for his life , to work seven more years in order to marry Rachel. It all worked out.

The irony is that Jacob did not see a trick played on him in the same light as a dreadful trick he himself had played earlier in his life.

Remember Esau?

Always remember that people judge themselves far differently than they judge others.

Think closely about this the next time you are hurt by someone and are planning revenge.

Revenge and lashing out will take away from what God has planned for you and, believe me, He definitely has a plan for your life. Just ask Him.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Comments about this Bible study lesson from Genesis are welcome. Please email me with any questions or comments you may have.

Other Life Application Lessons from Scripture

Genesis 28:10-22 - Jacob Makes His Covenant with God - In this study lesson, God makes a covenant with Jacob, Isaac's son. Just being the son of Isaac does not automatically guarantee salvation from Jacob. God has only children, not grandchildren.