March 23, 2023

Hello Advent Family,

Have you heard the expression turnabout is fair play?  It usually happens when someone is treated the way they treat others.  It happens to Jacob the trickster when he gets tricked into marrying the wrong woman.  Let’s look at the account together. 

After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.” 22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant. 25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” 26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” 28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

I’m not quite sure how he didn’t realize it was Leah until the morning but Jacob does get deceived.  God goes on to bless Leah with many children and then ultimately the line of Jesus comes through Leah although Rachel gives birth to Joseph, Jacob’s favorite.  Think of all of the chaos that has happened in the lives of Abraham Isaac and Jacob.  In the midst of all of this mess God makes something beautiful.  He forms the nation of Israel.  The twelve tribes come from the children of Leah and Rachel.  Ultimately He sends his own son to be the promised Messiah through the line of Leah and her son Judah.  Some times our own lives can feel like a mess as well.  Know that God can make beautiful things out of our mess just like He has always done.  We simply rely upon Him and submit to His ways and watch Him do amazing things. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave


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