Genesis Bible Study: Chapter 29
Relationship goals?
Jacob eventually enters into the land of Haran but before he starts looking for his uncle, he must first quench his thirst.
He sees a well and some shepherds around but the shepherds refuse to open the well till all the sheep arrive, it is a custom.
While Jacob is trying to convince them to open the well, he asks if he was truly in Haran and if they knew his uncle Laban. They know Laban of course and point out that the rest of the sheep coming was his.
Then all of a sudden, the wind stopped and slow romantic music started playing, and Rachel appeared with the rest of the sheep.
I’m kidding, it wasn’t that dramatic but you get my point.
Suddenly Jacob opens the well and starts to give water to the flock. He then introduces himself to Rachel as his cousin and she hurriedly and excitedly goes to tell her father.
Her father, Laban comes and gives Jacob a hug and a kiss. Jacob told Laban his story and why he had to leave home and Laban simply replies:
“Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!”
Genesis 29:14a NLT
So in short, Laban is also a scam. Lol
“After Jacob had stayed with Laban for about a month, Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.””
Genesis 29:14b–15 NLT
You see this verse really struck me. Just because someone is your relative, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay the person for work. A lot of times family and friends are usually the least willing to pay for services. They take advantage of the relationship. It’s truly not right.
Mehn the Bible has everything yo!
Jacob has at this point fallen head over heels in love with Rachel, she was beautiful and she had a nice figure.
Jacob said he’d work for his father for seven years and he wanted his ‘payment’ to be Rachel.
“So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.”
Genesis 29:20 NLT
Chai, God when. Lol
Jacob waited patiently, he worked hard, enduring hardships and this long distance relationship because he knew that there would be a reward at the end, Rachel. He didn’t even notice the seven years fly by, he was focused on the future joy that he would feel.
It kind of reminds me of Jesus who suffered and endured the cross for the joy of salvation
“We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!”
Hebrews 12:2 TPT
It also makes me think about life and all it’s hardships
“Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.”
Psalms 37:37 NKJV
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
Our future is certainly going to be great, filled with peace, as long as we continue our walk with God, so why are we weary as we’re going along this journey? Let’s focused on the expected end that God has planned, let us endure these hardships joyfully, because we know this is not the end, the end is peace.
After seven years, Jacob asks for Rachels hand in marriage, but on the wedding night, Laban gives him Leah instead. Jacob is confused and upset, he had paid his dues, what was this cheating about?
Karma Jacob, it’s Karma
Laban tells him that it’s customary for the older sister to marry before the younger one and if he really loved Rachel, he can marry her after a week, provided he works for Laban for another seven years.
His uncle took the love Jacob had for Rachel as a weakness and used it to get 14 years of technically free labor. Smart uncle. Jacob, you’ve met your match now.
Jacob eventually gets Rachel his one true love and he loved her deeply. He did not love Leah.
God had mercy on Leah because He saw she was unloved by Jacob and he allowed her to have 4 sons for him (including Judah), but that didn’t change Jacob’s feelings. The one whom he still loved, even though she was at the time unable to bear children for him was Rachel.
Sometime when a man doesn’t love you, there’s not much you can do to change that. If he so desires to love you, he would. If not, don’t force him.
We all need a man like Jacob who would be willing to wait and work and endure hardship for us and who would love us even when we have flaws. Lool.
Oh but we already have a man like that, a man better than that. We have Jesus.
