A Wife (or Two) for Jacob

We wrapped up last time with Jacob setting off to find a wife in his mother’s homeland.

Reaching his destination, he “happens upon” the perfect spot - a well in the open country with three flocks of sheep lying nearby. Talking with the shepherds, Jacob learns they are from Harran and know his uncle, Laban. And as luck (NOT luck!) would have it….

“Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep,” the men tell Jacob.

A large stone covered the well, and the process was to wait until all the flocks were gathered. Then the shepherds would roll that rock away, water the sheep, and return it.

Maybe everyone else was waiting … but not Jacob!

Comparing the smooth-skinned, “content to stay among the tents“ Jacob with his hairy, outdoorsy twin, I’d never thought of him as being particularly strong physically but here he is, seeing Rachel and moving that big rock!

I’m also impressed by the strength of his personality. Even though he’s an outsider and these shepherds have a system in place, he obviously isn’t timid about stepping outside of the box and taking matters into his own hands (literally!)

Rachel runs and tells her father, Laban, who has come to town!

This story has a similar beginning to one that happened a generation ago when Abraham sent his servant “back home” to find a wife for Isaac. (See Who Doesn’t Love a Love Story?) Back then, Laban had taken charge when his sister, Rebekah, was being courted.

Now he’s overseeing another engagement. This time it’s that of his daughter - or daughters as it turns out - because he has two. There’s Rachel and her older, also single sister.

I’m not sure what “weak eyes” means but it doesn’t sound like a compliment!

Guess which one Jacob fell in love with.

After a month, Laban brings up the subject of payment for Jacob’s work: “Tell me what your wages should be.” Jacob proposes seven years of work in exchange for Rachel, and Laban agrees:

“It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.”

Just what every man wants to hear from his prospective father-in-law: “I suppose she could do worse!” (just kidding). It’s a yes; the deal is made, and Jacob spends seven years working to earn his bride.

Isn’t that the way it always is with big dreams and long-term goals?

If we dwell on the enormity of the challenge and obsess over all that stands between where we are and where we want to be, we are overwhelmed; we feel defeated before we even begin.

It’s amazing how a shift in perspective makes all the difference in the world. By keeping our eyes on the prize that will make all of our efforts worth it (like Jacob did), we find sustained energy and motivation.

At last, those seven years were up.

Well, that’s “forthcoming!”

But a deal’s a deal; Laban gives a feast and, when evening comes, takes his daughter to Jacob. And Jacob makes love to his bride. All must have seemed finally right with the world as he fell asleep that night, but morning would come with a rude awakening.

There was Laban’s daughter, all right, but not beautiful Rachel.

After seven years of working and seven years of waiting, Jacob was a married man - and he was married to Sister Leah with the “weak eyes.”

I tried imagining myself in Jacob’s place, and honestly, I couldn’t do it.

So much for honoring agreements.

Having delivered everything he’d promised, Jacob was “paid” with 1) a surprise bride that wasn’t at all what he bargained for and 2) an arbitrary doubling of his end of the deal.

(A long-established deal, by the way, in which he has so far done all of the investing)

Shock and injustice aside, can you imagine the sense of frustration? He couldn’t even storm off in anger, as pride might demand. Well, he could, but that would mean throwing away the last seven years of his life and, even worse, leaving behind the woman he loved.

With Laban in charge of Rachel and holding all the power, Jacob doesn’t seem to have much choice.

What’s the moral here? “Jacob the deceiver reaps deception?” Mmmm, that’s true; however -

If all we learn from Jacob’s story is, “What goes around comes around,” we are underestimating Jacob and short-changing ourselves!

There’s more to Jacob than deception, a lot more: For example,

Courage, Confidence, Decisiveness, Determination, Passion

I love this story because it provides a glimpse inside one of the beloved patriarchs.

Jacob’s experience invites us to consider our own responses to injustice and adversity over which we have no control. What do we do when disappointments knock off us off course and threaten to derail our dreams?

It’s easy to get sidetracked by the unfairness of it all and lose heart. When it comes to disillusionment, one thing is for sure: we either overcome it, or it will take us down.

Jacob may have a “situation” on his hands, but if this story tells us anything about him, we know he’s not about to go down.

Here’s wishing you courage in overcoming whatever challenges come between you and your dreams. Be determined. Stay focused. Never give up.

Blessings until next time, Kim