God is in Control, Even when Life gets Complicated
“Now will I praise the LORD:” (Genesis 29:35)
With the help of his mother Rebekah, Jacob had deceitfully gotten a blessing from his father that was intended for his brother Esau. Now Esau wanted to kill him. Rebekah told Jacob to go to her brother Laban’s home and stay until Esau got over his anger. Jacob went. As he neared Laban’s home, he met a group of shepherds and asked them if they knew Laban. They knew him, and they pointed out Laban’s daughter Rachel. Jacob saw Rachel and fell in love.
Jacob agreed to serve Laban for seven years in order to marry his daughter Rachel. Seven years later, Jacob wanted his wife. Laban held a wedding feast. Yet when the time came for the wedding night, Laban sneaked his elder daughter Leah in to be with Jacob. Jacob woke up the next morning to an unpleasant surprise: he was in the marriage bed with Leah, not Rachel.
Jacob confronted Laban about this dirty trick. Laban replied, “It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.” (Genesis 29:26) Why didn’t Laban tell Jacob about this custom before? Genesis 29:16-17 gives us possible insight as to why he didn’t: “And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.”
Rachel was lovely. Leah apparently wasn’t. Yet if Laban just wanted Leah married off, he got his wish. He might have let Jacob marry Rachel right then just to be a decent guy after tricking Jacob as he did. Instead, he squeezed Jacob even more. He told Jacob, “Fulfil her (Rachel’s) week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.” (Genesis 29:27) In other words, “If you still want Rachel, I want seven more years’ service.”
Jacob served Laban for seven more years, then married Rachel. Jacob now had two wives, but Genesis 29:30 says, “…he [Jacob] loved also Rachel more than Leah,” Jacob’s love for Rachel more than Leah was no doubt obvious. This situation must have been grievous for Leah.
Genesis 29:31 also says, “And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.” After their first son, Reuben was born, Leah said, “Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.” (Genesis 29:32) Leah wanted Jacob to love her. She hoped that having his child would draw him to her.
She bore Jacob three more sons. After their fourth son, Judah, was born, Leah said, “Now will I praise the LORD:” The domestic strife in Jacob’s household was far from over, but in spite of the difficult situation she was in, Leah was still thankful to God.
The Bible has more to say about Jacob and his family, but here are a few lessons from this story. First, think about how innocent people will be affected by your decisions. Also, never give your spouse a reason to doubt your love. Finally, even if you have made bad decisions, as we all have, and think there is no hope, God is still good and your situation is not beyond His control.
Do you know for sure that Jesus is your Saviour and heaven is your eternal home? If not, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 8/10/2022
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822