Genesis 29:15-30 – The Deceiver is Deceived!
Jacob doesn’t take advantage of his uncle’s hospitality, but he immediately sets to work to serve and help his uncle anyway that he can. When Laban sees this, he doesn’t want to lose Jacob by being unfair, so he asks Jacob what kind of wage he is looking for. At this point Jacob makes clear to Laban that he is in love with Rachel, Laban’s younger daughter. He then offers to work for Laban for seven years in exchange for Rachel as his wife. Laban realises that it is better for Rachel to marry the godly Jacob than anyone else, so he agrees.
Jacob honestly performs his part of the bargain, and because of his love for Rachel, the seven years seem to fly by. Love makes long and hard jobs short and easy. If we love Christ and long to see Him in heaven, the sufferings and difficulties that we have in this life will seem as nothing in comparison to the happiness we will have in heaven and our desire to serve Christ here on earth. Our love for Jesus makes our obedience to Him easy.
But Jacob who has cheated his own father when he has pretended to be Esau, is now cheated by his father-in-law bringing still more deception-caused pain and heartache into his life and the lives of others. Laban doesn’t just wrong Jacob, he also acts in a terrible way towards his own daughters, putting them in an awkward, sinful, and unloving situation.
Laban tries to laugh off the situation with an excuse of tradition that probably isn’t even true. He then draws Jacob into the sin of multiplying wives by promising him Rachel if he works another seven years. Jacob, because of his great love for Rachel, agrees.
Questions
- What agreement does Jacob make with Laban?
- Was this work easy or hard and why?
- How did Laban trick Jacob?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that God’s love for us makes obedience easier.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.