Held Together by God’s Grace – Genesis 29-30

“So Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the East. And he looked and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. A large stone was on the well’s mouth. Now all the flocks would be gathered there; and they would roll the stone from the well’s mouth, water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the well’s mouth. And Jacob said to them, ‘My brethren, where are you from?’ And they said, ‘We are from Haran.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?’ And they said, ‘We know him.’ So he said to them, ‘Is he well?’ And they said, ‘He is well. And look, his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.’ Then he said, ‘Look, it is still high day; it is not time for the cattle to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go and feed them.’ But they said, ‘We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and they have rolled the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.’” Genesis 29:1-8

Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, was gathering water at a well when his grandfather’s servant met her and invited her to marry his father. Now, Jacob is by a well, perhaps the same one and meets his future wife. According to John 4:5, 26, 29, 39, this well (Jacob’s well), is likely where Jesus met a Samaritan woman whom He led to faith in Him – the Messiah. She in turn led many in her village to believe in Jesus. That is in the future! First, Jacob must meet his wife (s) and complete his mission to keep the family line of Messiah going forward. God, the Holy Spirit, orchestrated events for Jacob so that within moments after arriving in his cousin’s neighborhood, he meets and greets her. They are destined to marry each other.

“Now while he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then, Jacob kissed Rachel and lifted up his voice and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative and that he was Rebekah’s son. So, she ran and told her father.” Genesis 29:9-12

Jacob wasted no time. He kissed Rachel. Then, he began crying and she began running. She ran to tell her father Laban about Jacob. Jacob likely wept tears of contrition. The Lord had been so good to him. He did not deserve all this. The passage mentions that Rachel was a shepherdess. Children who grow up on farms usually do help their parents care for their flocks and herds.

It is worth noting that both Rebekah and Rachel did not connect with their future husbands at a wild party, but while doing common menial tasks. And better yet, the Samaritan woman in John 4 met the Messiah while doing her daily chore of gathering water.

“Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So, he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, ‘Surely you are my bone and my flesh.’ And he stayed with him for a month. Then, Laban said to Jacob, ‘Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?’ Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.” Genesis 29:13-17

Hugs and kisses were common greetings among family members and relatives in those days. Laban immediately affirms Jacob as his bone and flesh. Nowadays, we often say, “Our flesh and blood” when referring to a relative. After being with them for a month, Laban wants to put Jacob on his payroll. Jacob is not thinking about money. He is thinking about a wife.

“Now Jacob loved Rachel; so, he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter,’ And Laban said, ‘It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.’ So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.” Genesis 29:18-20

I can’t imagine telling my future father-in-law that I would work for him for seven years for one of his daughters. That says a lot about how much Jacob loved Rachel. Such a high standard! Oh, that all men would love and respect their future wives so much and then, continue that level of love and high esteem throughout the years of their marriage! The years passed quickly for Jacob. He enjoyed his long courtship with her.

“Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.’ And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?’ And Laban said, ‘It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.’ Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So, he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.” Genesis 29:22-29

“What goes around, comes around” means a man reaps what he sows. You don’t plant weed seeds and harvest grapes. Jacob had deceived his father and his brother. His brother was so angry at him that he wanted to kill him. Jacob escaped with his life but afterwards an uncle betrayed, deceived and defrauded him. Now, he has two wives, and they are going to compete for his affections. They will even throw their handmaidens into the rivalry. Jacob loved Rachel. He only wanted Rachel. Now, he will have strife in his home for many years.

Jacob had to wait one more week before consummating his relationship with Rachel, and then, still render an additional seven years of service to Laban for her.

It is likely that Jacob had been given a lot of wine during that first wedding feast and that there were no candles burning when he entered his tent to be with Leah. Thus, he didn’t realize until the next morning that he had joined himself to Leah in the night and not to Rachel.

Poor Leah! Her Dad should not have treated her as an object. He did not consider how his decision would hurt her, hurt Rachel, hurt Jacob and hurt his future grandchildren. His mind was on profiteering from those closest to him.

“When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. So, Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, ‘The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now, therefore, my husband will love me.’ Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, ‘Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.’ And she called his name Simeon. She conceived again and bore a son, and said, ‘Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons’ Therefore, his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, ‘Now I will praise the Lord.’ Therefore, she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.” Genesis 29:31-35

Poor Leah! Her life became achievement-oriented. She thought she could earn Jacob’s love by bearing sons for him, but achievements don’t necessarily make a person more lovable. God is the one who transforms us in our inmost being to be more like Him. Godliness is extremely attractive. In any case, Jacob loved Rachel from the beginning. He didn’t have to work at it. God placed love in his heart for Rachel.

What about Leah? Did you notice how she named her sons? She gave God the glory for each one of them. Despite her unhappy home situation, she saw God answering her prayers. Leah is important to Messiah’s story. Her son, Judah, whose name means “praise,” is the forefather of Messiah’s family line.

“Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or else I die!’ And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, ‘Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?’ So, she said, ‘Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.’ Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, ‘God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.’ Therefore, she called his name Dan. And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, ‘With great wrestling I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.’ So, she called his name Naphtali.” Genesis 30:1-8

I cannot imagine how Jacob having children with Rachel’s handmaiden (twice) helped their marriage relationship, or their family’s cohesiveness. Rachel vied for Jacob’s love and attention, but he already loved her. Her suggestion did not help matters. Now, Jacob has three women in his life who know him intimately and can get inside his head with their comments and treatment of him.

“When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, ‘A troop comes!’ So, she called his name Gad. And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, ‘I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.’ So, she called his name Asher.” Genesis 30:9-11

Now, Jacob has four women in his household with sons from three of them, and the one he really loves has none. His father-in-law Laban really threw him a curveball... messed up his life, but then again, he had also messed up his brother Esau’s life. Everyone in this picture needed God’s forgiveness and love. Thanks to God’s grace, Jacob’s family held together.

“Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, ‘Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.’ But she said to her, ‘Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?’ And Rachel said, ‘Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.’” Genesis 30:14-15

Matthew Henry Commentary says of this situation, “Rachel’s strong passions betrayed her into a bargain with Leah that Jacob should return to her apartment. Reuben, a little lad, five or six years old, playing in the field, found mandrakes (דּוּדַי dudaim).” Song of Songs 7:13 speaks of mandrakes giving forth fragrance. “Some think these mandrakes were jessamine flowers.” Rachel was willing to give Leah a night in bed with Jacob for them.

“When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, ‘You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.’ And he lay with her that night.” Genesis 30:16

Jacob cooperated. My guess was that he was mistreated by Rachel afterwards, but it was for her mandrakes that he did it.

“And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, ‘God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.’ So, she called his name Issachar. Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. And Leah said, ‘God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.’ So, she called his name Zebulun. Afterward, she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.” Genesis 30:17-21

What began as one night with Leah in exchange for some flowers ended up being more than that. Leah and Jacob produced two more sons and a daughter together. Perhaps, Rachel experienced buyer’s remorse after acquiring those flowers. They were probably wilted by now.

Leah gave glory to God. She had prayed and God listened to her. She saw her fifth son as a reward to her for allowing Jacob to have two sons with her handmaiden Zilpah. She assumed that Jacob would want to dwell with her after she bore to him a sixth son.

“Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son, and said, ‘God has taken away my reproach.’ So, she called his name Joseph, and said, ‘The Lord shall add to me another son.’” Genesis 30:22-24

Rachel received a revelation from God. Her sister Leah prayed to God and God gave her children. So, she too prayed and God caused her to conceive and bear a son. She felt that God took away her reproach. She called her firstborn son Joseph and professed faith in the Lord to add to her an additional son.

“And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, ‘Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.’ And Laban said to him, ‘Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake.’ Then he said, ‘Name me your wages, and I will give it.’ So, Jacob said to him, ‘You know how I have served you and how your livestock has been with me. For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount. The Lord has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?’” Genesis 30:25-30

The last time, Jacob’s father-in-law said to him, “Name your wages” it did not end well. Jacob echoes what Laban said back to him. “The Lord has blessed you since my coming.” Jacob wants Laban to tell him how he is going to provide for his two wives, two handmaidens, eleven sons and one daughter unless Laban gives him a share of the profits.

“So he said, ‘What shall I give you?’ And Jacob said, ‘You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks. Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. So, my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.’” Genesis 30:31-33

Jacob had a plan to out-fox the fox.

“And Laban said, ‘O, that it were according to your word!’ So, he removed that day the male goats that were speckled and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had some white in it, and all the brown ones among the lambs, and gave them into the hand of his sons. Then, he put three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.” Genesis 30:34-36

Laban liked the deal.

“Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods. And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink. So, the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted. Then, Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the brown in the flock of Laban; but he put his own flocks by themselves and did not put them with Laban’s flock. And it came to pass, whenever the stronger livestock conceived, that Jacob placed the rods before the eyes of the livestock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so, the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. Thus, the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.” Genesis 30:37-43

Jacob implemented selective breeding to ensure that the sheep that he received as wages would be healthy and strong. “Some interpreters of this passage suggest that the specific trees Jacob used (poplar, almond, and plane) may have offered medicinal or nutritional benefits when their bark was soaked in the water, such as increasing protein utilization or easing birth pangs, which could have contributed to the “strength” of the flock. This use of herbal remedies in animal care is a recognized field of study today.” – Google sources

When I read this, 2 Kings 6:1-7 came to my mind where Elisha threw a stick into water to make an axe head float. It was a miracle!

I also thought of the cross. The cross was formed from the wood of a tree. It was formed out of dead wood, but God brought forth life from it, because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for our redemption. So, in a sense, Jacob and his family prospered due to branches that were symbolic of the cross of Jesus. The Messiah is also called, “My Branch” in Isaiah 4:2, Jeremiah 23:5 and Zechariah 3:8.

What’s your family life like? Is it cohesive or chaotic? Is it wonderful or wearisome? The Lord reveals to us in Jacob’s story His ability to make all things work together for the good. Laban messed up Jacob’s and Rachel’s relationship by throwing Leah in between them, but Jacob and Rachel also had their own short-comings. As Leah and Rachel prayed to the Lord, He blessed them with children. By God’s grace, a family with internal turmoil held together and enjoyed many blessings.

I want to say a good word about Jacob. He was a good provider for his family. He did not cut and run when situations in his home became overwhelming. The fact that his wives wanted to be with him so much means that he must have had desirable qualities.

What about Jacob’s legacy? In the future, one of his descendants named Solomon will become the wealthiest king on earth. At another point, the Messiah of humankind will be born into his family’s linage. It is by faith in Christ that the everlasting Father welcomes people into the greatest kingdom ever. The eternal kingdom of God! Praise the Lord!

In our Heavenly Father’s everlasting home there will be no strife. Only love! Only fullness of joy. We shall lack no good thing. We will live happily forevermore, thanks to God!