What Goes Around, Comes Around

 

Genesis 29 – What Goes Around, Comes Around

 

“Be not deceived God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he reap.”  Galatians 6:7. 

God’s providence brought Jacob to the well just as Rachel was arriving.  Jacob had lived by his wits.  He was rather clever and cocky.  True to his scheming nature, Jacob tried to get rid of the shepherds so that he could have Rachel all to himself. Rachel was a shepherdess which was the woman’s work of that day.  This was love at first sight for both. Laban welcomes Jacob into his home. Jacob was not wealthy like Isaac.  He had to work for his Uncle Laban to have the woman he loved.  Uncle Laban is clever.  Frankly, you do not live with Laban for a month without making some sort of arrangement to pay for your board.  Now he is going to deal with his nephew and Jacob begins to reap what he has sown.  Jacob deceived his father and now his father-in-law deceives him.  Laban has two daughters, and it is obvious that Jacob loves his youngest daughter, Rachel. It was customary in those days that the oldest marry first.  Jacob was willing to work for seven years for Rachel and Laban accepts the bargain.  Uncle Laban worked Jacob hard in all kinds of weather, but Jacob’s mind was on Rachel making his task easier.  In those days, the woman was heavily veiled during the wedding ceremony.  She could not be seen.  After the wedding, Jacob had seen that he had been tricked since it was Leah in his bed and not Rachel. When he confronted Laban, he then agreed to another seven years labor for Rachel. As a result, Jacob took two wives which he should not have done.  Leah is a sad person because she knows her husband loves Rachel more than her.  Reuben is Jacob’s firstborn, but he is not the one who will begin the line leading to Christ.  It will be Leah’s fourth son, Judah.  Judah was the kingly line, David also was in this line, and later, the Lord Jesus Himself.  Leah was the mother of some of the outstanding sons of Jacob.