GENESIS 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 gavehis 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.
– Genesis 29:21-30
GENESIS 29 THE TRICKSTER GOT TRICKED
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After Jacob served 7 years to get Rachel as his wife
Laban tricked him and gave Leah the eldest instead
The deceiver Jacob was also cheated by his uncle
What we usually bring comes around us
Laban wanted Jacob to serve another 7 years for Rachel
And Jacob served that term again in order to have her.
In Galatians 6, God gave us the concept of sowing and reaping. What we plant is definitely what we will harvest. In this account, we see Laban treacherously cheating Jacob of another seven years of service so he could take advantage of the benefits of having Jacob around in his household. It must have reminded Jacob what he had done to Esau once he himself was tricked. He sowed deceit and he reaped it too.
There is a good trait that came out of it though: Jacob continued to pursue to have Rachel as his wife because of his love for her. Out of the faithfulness and perseverance, he also reaped that love he worked for to be with Rachel.
REFLECTION
- How is the law of sowing and reaping almost synonymous to the golden rule?
