Genesis 29:23-25 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter as her maidservant. 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?"
My husband and I will celebrate our 10th year of marriage on our next anniversary. My husband's brother is the High School Orchestra Director at our church, so many people sometimes get me confused with my sister-in-law. Not that we look alike, we just all have the same last name (which is not a very common name-but memorable) so people who don't know us well, just assume we're married. My husband and his brother, however, do look alike. They also have another brother who looks like them. So put the three of them together and it's obvious they are brothers. However, my husband has a different voice. He has a different smell. He walks differently than his brothers. He laughs differently. And after 10 years of marriage - I know the difference.
How in the world did Jacob not know he was sleeping with Leah??? Even if Leah was veiled - which was common custom at the time - was Jacob so intent on his purpose that he didn't stop to realize, "Hey, Rachel sounds a little different this evening, and is walking funny". What about Rachel. She was in love with Jacob too - Laban probably had her hidden away somewhere so as not to risk the chance of Jacob seeing her. What must have been going on in her head? I'm sure it wasn't far from what I'm thinking right now . . . "Surely he could've figured out it wasn't me." They had known each other for seven years now, and the big day that was supposed to belong to her - was given to her sister.
Is that how we see things? When something happens, either at the deceit of someone else or by accident, that causes heartache for us - do we try and see it from the other person's perspective? Do you think Rachel felt bad for Jacob or do you think she was angry that he slept with her sister? Do we wallow in our own self-pity or do we try to see what the other person may be going through-even though we're hurt by it? Do we let our circumstances determine our demeanor or do we resolve to stand firm in Christ no matter who wrongs us or for what reason? We follow the example that Christ set for us "...forgive them, for they know not what they do..."
2 comments:
I have wondered how Jacob didn't know...I find it difficult to comprehend how he was so clueless...was he extremely drunk or desired to be with Rachel so much he couldn't see that he was with Leah...
I think the same thing now when something seems obvious deceptive -I don't understand how others don't see it...I then remember not to let the enemy steal my joy...how others respond to the truth or deception is not my burden to carry...what I can do is present the truth,keep them in prayer...
Be Blessed,
In His Love
Well, there could have been much wine at the wedding and Jacob was not fully at himself. I don't know about the customs of the times, but that might be an explanation.
When I think on this story and the ending of Leah's children being the ancestors of Jesus Christ I am awed. We must be so careful when adverse circumstances put us in places that make no sense to our minds. We could be in a setup with eternal consequences even though we pay with pain to fulfill what God calls us to do.
For every time I've been betrayed or rejected Leah comes up as a woman who found her peace in Jehovah!!!
Loving the way you are weaving this Bible truth!!!
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