Genesis 29:1-30
Dear RTB’ers,
Jacob and his wives – more deception! Two days ago I asked a question in my post, “What was God thinking?” John answered, “Where in the text does it suggest that all this conniving and deceit is God’s idea or that He approves of Rebekah’s and Jacob’s schemes? Just because a story appears in the Bible does not mean that God condones all the actions of the participants. But God is indeed sovereign, and He works out His purposes even when the human actors have evil intent.” So, today we have more “conniving and deceit”, this time from Jacob’s uncle Laban, and Jacob ends up with two wives, both Leah and Rachel. One twist that I thought amusing: Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn…” (Gen 29:26) After buying the firstborn’s birthright from Esau, Jacob now receives another birthright, Leah, the “firstborn” from Laban. Justice…?
So yes, we have another Genesis story of conniving, deception, and deceit. But let’s not lose sight of the love: Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel …Then Jacob kissed Rachel… (Gen 29:10-11, with some important context removed); …but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. (Gen 29:17-18a); So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah… (Gen 29:30a) This incident reflecting Jacob’s love for Rachel prompted Carol and me to name our youngest daughter, “Rachel” – tying together Jacob’s seven-year wait with our own two-year broken engagement: “But God is indeed sovereign, and He works out His purposes even when…” Yes, “…even when…”!
Have you got your own “…even when…” story? Let’s hear about it at our RTB gathering tomorrow!
Blessings!