What goes around comes around. And Jacob has been tricked.
26 Laban replied, ‘It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder one. 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.’ (Genesis 29:26-27)
So earlier Jacob had deceived Isaac to get what the oldest son should have gotten. Now, Laban deceives Jacob to give his oldest daughter what she deserves, a husband. Regardless, as seen in verse 27, Jacob made another deal to serve Laban for another 7 years in order to marry Rachel who he truly desired.
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
It’s funny how the Bible specifies that “his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah”. There’s no greater point, I just thought it was funny…
Let’s put it all into perspective. It’s been some time now. Around 20 years since he’s left, so you can imagine that Jacob has amassed a decent amount of wealth. God isn’t a liar, so we already knew that Jacob was going to be blessed eventually.
Most of you probably know that Jacob is the father of Joseph and if you know Joseph, then you also know that Jacob had a lot of sons as God promised. But they weren’t all from Rachel, or even Leah.
It’s rather complicated, but let’s just say Rachel and Leah were really fighting over who could give Jacob the most kids, to where they even made Jacob sleep with their own servants to claim as their own kids.
For example, Bilhah who served Rachel and slept with Jacob to give Dan, or Zilpah who served Leah but slept with Jacob to birth Gad.
By the end of it, Jacob was blessed with a lot of children, but not only that, his property was also blessed.
43 In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
Eventually, Jacob decided it was time to return home.
Wasn’t he scared of Esau? Didn’t Esau basically say it was on sight, and that he’d kill him immediately!
Yes, and so Jacob proceeded slowly in his travels with his wives, children and property. He sent messengers ahead of him to let Esau know of his return.
Know of his return? Why? Doesn’t this give Esau time to prepare to kill him?
I guess you’re right because Jacob later heard from the messenger that Esau was coming to meet him – and he was bringing 400 men.
400 men! Surely, he wants to fight. This wasn’t a good idea. Jacob should just go back.
7 In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, ‘If Esau comes and attacks one group, the groupthat is left may escape.’
Things weren’t looking good for Jacob. He was in a position which he couldn’t get out of by himself.
Jacob has a lot of cattle. Couldn’t he offer some to Esau?
Jacob already tried the peace-offering route and it didn’t work. His only option now was to pray to God and so he did. He even reminded God of His promise saying, ‘but you have said, “I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.”’ (Genesis 32:12).
After all of his planning and praying, Jacob was left alone.
Remember 20 years. It’s been 20 years since Jacob first left, alone, but now, in his loneliness, God has returned.
So, what, God had just been watching Jacob for 20 years, seeing if he was going to change or not?
– Actually, let me rephrase. God wanted to see if Jacob’s character had developed enough to receive the fruition of his blessing.
Right?
Alright, wait, I think I’m getting it. God put Jacob in a situation which would not only expose his old character but develop a new one. That’s why Jacob had to get tricked. So that he could develop a new one.
But then, what is God trying to develop in him now? –
My Sunday Skl 