GENESIS 29
Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, 3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” 7 He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” 8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.” – Genesis 29:1-8
GENESIS 29 JACOB MEETS RACHEL
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After his meeting with God and assurance of providence for him
Jacob continued his journey towards the east and saw a well in the field
There were three flocks of sheep lying beside it and gathered in the well
He asked the men tending the flock if they knew his uncle.
And they said they knew Laban, the son of Nahor
What joy it would have been to be directed to his own kin
Then Rachel came with her flock as she shepherded them
Jacob was smitten and overjoyed to see her and he kissed her.
This account shows us God’s faithfulness and providence for Jacob all of his journey to find his uncle’s place. We see how he was directly pointed to where Rachel usually goes to tend to her flock. Her name actually means “female sheep”. What a great clue as to how Rachel must have been. Sheep are usually meek and very gentle animals. They have 360-degree peripheral vision. They are very intelligent with impressive memory and recognition skills and can make different sounds to communicate different emotions and can display and recognise emotion by facial expressions. No wonder Jacob was smitten.
REFLECTION
- Do you think God orchestrated the meeting of Jacob & Rachel at the well? Why?
