Genesis Chapter 29

Jacob In Haran

29:1

This arduous journey of approximately 400 miles was probably traveled by camel, as Isaac had ample camels to allow Jacob to be properly outfitted for such a long, hard journey. Keep in mind this is the same area Abraham’s servant traveled to obtain a bride for Isaac. It appears that God caused Jacob to make the trip rather quickly and obviously, safely.

29:2-4

Jacob comes upon the well used to water all the flocks and herds and addresses the shepherds in a friendly and respectful way by calling them “my brothers”. He immediately asked them where they are from; and they tell him from Haran. So now Jacob knows he is in the right area.

29:5-6

Jacob wastes no time in asking them if they know of Laban, the grandson of Nahor. He must give the correct genealogy of Laban to indicate he knows his family history and to make certain he identifies the correct ‘Laban’. They indicate they know of him, but give no other information. (6.) Jacob politely asks if all is well with him, indicating he has a personal and special interest in Laban’s well being. Now the men warm up a bit to Jacob and indicate he is doing well; and they add, ‘here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.’ This added information was volunteered, probably at God’s inspiration.

29:7-8

Now Jacob sees the sun is high, meaning it is a hot time of the time day, so he takes the initiative to suggest that they go ahead and provide water for the thirsty sheep and allow them to return to their pasture to continue to be fed. (8.) ‘But they said..’ They refused to do anything until all the flocks were gathered together and the shepherds came and rolled the stone from the well, then their job was to water the flocks at that time. It was a simple case of an attitude of “It’s not my job, so I’m NOT doing it!” These lazy men were just going to sit around and do nothing until the shepherds came and forced them to get to work. As he is speaking with the men, Rachel comes near to the well with the sheep as she is working as the shepherdess of her father’s sheep.

29:9-10

Jacob sees Rachel, realizing she is his Uncle’s daughter, the niece of his mother. He sees the need for water for the sheep and immediately takes action and rolls the heavy stone from the well, and draws and provides water for the entire flock. He shows himself to be hardworking and industrious, looking for what needs to be done and then does it. Unlike the lazy hired hands, he takes the initiative and willingly does all the hard work in the hot sun with no complaining, providing for the needs of the thirsty sheep. These actions show he is generous with his time and work; is zealous and industrious. Jacob is on a mission and a quest and wants to succeed in all that he does.

29:11-12

After all his hard work he comes up to Rachel and introduces himself as her father’s nephew. The kiss was a kiss of greeting and friendship from a family member. Rachel immediately leaves the sheep and runs to tell her father about Jacob. No doubt telling him of all the volunteer hard work and efforts made by Jacob to care for Laban’s sheep.

29:13-14

As soon as Laban hears of the arrival of Jacob. His sister Rebekah’s son, he runs to meet him, embraces and kisses him, and brings Jacob to his home. Jacob then tells Laban all of these things.

29:15

Laban tells Jacob he is his bone and flesh, meaning he is a close relative. It is interesting that Laban uses a term that today would mean we have the same family DNA. How did he know that about the bone and flesh? Obviously the Holy Spirit revealed this Truth to Laban. Notice that Jacob is living and working hard for Laban for an entire month before he even offers to give him any wages at all. Keep in mind that Laban had bargained hard to get as much money and wealth as possible from Abraham’s servant for his sister Rebekah, before he would allow her to become Isaac’s wife. It appears that Laban is both crafty and very greedy.

29:16-18

We are told that Laban has two daughters; the older is Leah who is described by having weak and dull eyes; and the younger daughter is Rachel, who is described as being beautiful and attractive. Keep in mind that these daughters are no longer young. Jacob has fallen in love with Rachel, so he offers to work for Laban for seven years for the hand of Rachel as his wife.

29:19

Greedy Laban simply says that is it better to give Rachel to Jacob than to another man; so he agrees to have Jacob live and work with the family. It is almost as if he had said “Oh well, I guess you are just as good as any other man.” We begin to understand why these two daughters are still single! Their greedy father has probably demanded an outrageous amount of money and wealth for each of his daughters. Working for seven years and being paid nothing except the promise of marrying Rachel is a very expensive proposition for Jacob. Jacob is placing a very high value on Rachel and Laban knows it, yet he carefully hides his enthusiasm about Jacob’s generous offer.

29:20-21

Seven years go by with Jacob working hard all that time for Laban. God’s word says that Jacob loved Rachel so dearly, that to him it was all worth it. Yet, Jacob has to finally remind Laban of their agreement and formally ask Laban to give Rachel to him as his wife, pointing out that he has already completed all the years of hard work. Remember how Laban had tried to stall giving Rebekah to Abraham’s servant in order to try to get more money? It appears he was trying to do the same thing to Jacob.

29:22-24

Laban organizes a feast where all the men get together and drink, no doubt to excess. That night, when it is dark and Jacob has no doubt had too much to drink, then Laban brings Leah in to Jacob, passing her off as Rachel. Leah probably had a veil covering her face, and Jacob probably had so much to drink, he didn’t realize it wasn’t Rachel. In any case, he has intercourse with her, accepting her as his wife. Laban also gives Zilpah, his maid, to be Leah’s maid.

29:25

But… Again that word that let’s us know something is not right. The next morning, when Jacob probably has a hangover, he realizes that his wife is not Rachel, but is Leah! He immediately goes to Laban and demands to know why he had deceived him and given him Leah instead of Rachel. He points out that he has worked hard for seven years for Rachel, not Leah. He demands to know why Laban has deceived, cheated and thrown him down like this!

29:26-27

Laban uses the excuse that in their country it is not permitted to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older daughter. He promises that if Jacob will complete the wedding feast week with Leah, then he will give Rachel to him also as a wife, IF he agrees to work another seven years in return for Rachel. Sneaky, dishonest, lying, demanding, greed seems to be just pouring out of Laban!

29:28-30

Jacob probably felt trapped and forced into the agreement, so he fulfills the week with Leah, and then Laban gives him Rachel to also be his wife. Laban also gives the maid, Bilhah, to Rachel to be her maid. (30.) Jacob lives with Rachel also as his wife. Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah. This lets us know that he did love Leah, but not the way he dearly loved Rachel. He continues to work for Laban for another seven years.

29:31

God sees that Leah is ‘second rate’ in Jacob’s eyes, and she no doubt is painfully aware of that fact. She was probably embarrassed and humiliated to be given to Jacob and passed off as her younger sister; but forced to participate in the deception by her father. She was no doubt feeling mortified, humiliated and unloved when Jacob went storming off to Laban about the deception. God causes Leah to be able to become pregnant and bear children, despite her feelings of being unwanted and unloved. At least bearing children would give her a sense of some worth in her culture. We are also told that Rachel is unable to conceive.

29:32

Leah becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son and names him Reuben, meaning (see, a son). She says that “the Lord has seen my humiliation and affliction; and now surely my husband will love me.” She believes Jacob will now love her because she has born him a son.

29:33-34

Leah again becomes pregnant and bears another son, whom she names Simeon (meaning God hears). She feels that she is despised and unloved. She again becomes pregnant and now gives birth to the third son, naming him Levi (companion) hoping that Jacob would finally be a companion to her.

29:35

Leah bears yet a fourth son, naming him Judah (Praise God) now she is praising God for her son. She finally realizes that Jacob continues to love Rachel more than she, despite the fact that Rachel is unable to bear Jacob children. At this time she now has four boys to care for and ceases bearing children.

After studying this sad situation, we can’t help but feel compassion for Leah. Not a great beauty, having weak and dull eyes and being forced on Jacob as a wife, must have left her feeling pretty worthless, used, angry and depressed. Yet she tried the only way she knew how, to continue to give her all for her husband, by bearing children. She was aware that God knew of her pain, suffering and humiliation in being ‘second class’ to her sister. Leah felt that no matter how much she gave, it wasn’t enough to ‘earn’ her husband’s love.

Often, we also try to ‘earn’ the love of someone, only to be used, abused and taken advantage of. Ever feel like that? Then you can identify with Leah. She was trapped in a situation she could not get out of. Yet the Truth is, True Love is never earned, it is a free gift from one who cares deeply about us. True Love is being willing to sacrifice self for the one loved. We love someone when we sacrifice and do what is best for them in light of eternity. Everything else is self-serving. We begin to realize that only God gives us True Eternal Forever Love. We can’t earn it! His Love is self-sacrificing; God sacrificed His only Son so that we could have His Eternal Love in Heaven, forever. IF you REALLY recognize this amazing Truth, you will change your attitude, your very thought processes, AND your actions; all to be OBEDIENT to the Word of God!