Jacob Gets A Taste Of His Own Medicine (29:1-35)
Neal Pollard
Rebekah urged her son to flee to Haran (27:43), and he arrived in “the land of the sons of the east” (1). Jacob is looking for his mom’s brother, Laban, and he encounters his shepherds tending his thirsty flocks (2-8). Laban’s daughter Rachel, a shepherdess herself, is also with them (9). Jacob assists them by rolling the stone from the well (10). He introduces himself to Rachel, kissing her and telling her their connection as cousins (11-12). Rachel runs back and informs Laban of Jacob’s arrival, news which his uncle welcomes (13-14). Laban extends hospitality to Jacob for the next month while Jacob presumably already begins to work for Laban (14-15).
We have already received glimpses of character traits in Laban that are on fully display in Genesis 29. As mentioned previously, Laban was not a stranger to materialism (24:29-31,53). He is always presented by implication as a man striving to get the upper hand or advantage. He is wily enough to win out over a conniving character (Jacob), but he would meet his match with God at a later point (ch. 30).
When Jacob saw Rachel, he was very attracted to her. We do not know how impressed he was with her personality or spirituality, “but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face” (17b, NLT). Leah was comparatively plain (17a). There is no doubt to anyone, certainly Laban, that Rachel was the one he desired. Moses highlights this by speaking of Jacob’s “love” for Rachel three times over the next several verses (18-30).
But, Laban lies to Jacob. He exacts seven years of work from Jacob for the promise of Rachel, then promptly sends Leah into his tent on their wedding night. Jacob unwittingly sleeps with her in the dark. The next morning, he is enraged at being tricked and expresses as much to Laban (25). Laban’s excuse is that their local custom was to marry the eldest daughter before marrying a younger daughter. He gives Rachel to him that week, but requires him to work seven more years for her (28-30). You wonder how many times Jacob considered the irony of being treated the way he treated his brother Esau.
It is interesting to see God’s tender feelings for the spurned Leah. Verse 31 says, “When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive” (NLT). Leah gives him four sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Each name symbolized her triumph is the spousal war with her sister. Reuben means “see, a son,” Simeon means “unloved” or “hated,” Levi means “attached,” and Judah means “praise the Lord.” Interestingly, the Savior of the world would come through the lesser loved Leah than the physically more beautiful Rachel.
So many departures from God’s will marked this entire interaction. The polygamy, the deception, the selfish desire, and more. Yet, God’s overarching providence was at work accomplish His will. Jacob is being refined and tested, and we will see the growth and progress. But, we leave him in this chapter working through a domestic boondoggle!
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