Genesis 29
Genesis 29
Jacob obeyed his father Abraham and went to find a wife among the family of his mother. At a watering place for sheep, Jacob first laid eyes on Rachel. Rachel was a member of his mothers family, and so Jacob talked to her father (his uncle) Laban about marrying Rachel. Jacob agrees to work for 7 years for Rachel (prospective husbands often paid the father of the bride a “bride price” in this culture).
After 7 years, Jacob is given his wife by Laban, but realizes that it is actually Leah instead of Rachel. To this, Laban simply says, in verse 26, that it is not customary to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one in his country. Don’t miss the irony in the fact that Jacob deceived his father into giving him a blessing by pretending to be the first born, and Jacob being deceived into marrying Laban’s first born, Leah, first, instead of Rachel. At the end of a week, Jacob was finally able to marry Rachel, whom he loved more than Leah.
The theme that we see in chapter 29 that is consistent with the rest of the book is evidence after evidence of the brokenness in the world caused by sin. There is serious brokenness in deception, broken relationships, brokenness (not because of personal sin, but because of living in a fallen world) in child bearing for Rachel. Brokenness is everywhere.
The only solution—for them and for us? The gospel. Jesus was sent into the world forgiveness of sins and redemption of all who believe in Him. Because Jesus died and rose again, there is hope and redepmtion for all who experience the brokenness caused by sin in our world.
By: Graham Withers
Jacob obeyed his father Abraham and went to find a wife among the family of his mother. At a watering place for sheep, Jacob first laid eyes on Rachel. Rachel was a member of his mothers family, and so Jacob talked to her father (his uncle) Laban about marrying Rachel. Jacob agrees to work for 7 years for Rachel (prospective husbands often paid the father of the bride a “bride price” in this culture).
After 7 years, Jacob is given his wife by Laban, but realizes that it is actually Leah instead of Rachel. To this, Laban simply says, in verse 26, that it is not customary to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one in his country. Don’t miss the irony in the fact that Jacob deceived his father into giving him a blessing by pretending to be the first born, and Jacob being deceived into marrying Laban’s first born, Leah, first, instead of Rachel. At the end of a week, Jacob was finally able to marry Rachel, whom he loved more than Leah.
The theme that we see in chapter 29 that is consistent with the rest of the book is evidence after evidence of the brokenness in the world caused by sin. There is serious brokenness in deception, broken relationships, brokenness (not because of personal sin, but because of living in a fallen world) in child bearing for Rachel. Brokenness is everywhere.
The only solution—for them and for us? The gospel. Jesus was sent into the world forgiveness of sins and redemption of all who believe in Him. Because Jesus died and rose again, there is hope and redepmtion for all who experience the brokenness caused by sin in our world.
By: Graham Withers
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