Jacob And Laban’s Deceptions!
Genesis 29 - 30
In Genesis 27 we saw that Jacob traded a bowl of lintel stew to his brother Esau for Esau’s birthright when Esau was hungry. We also saw that their mother Rebekah told Jacob to disguise himself as his brother Esau and trick their blind father, Isaac, into giving him the Firstborn Blessing. Now because of Esau’s threats against Jacob, Rebekah decides to tell Isaac a half truth. She does not want Jacob to marry a Canaanite like Esau has, it disgusts her; but she does not tell of her trickery and Esau’s anger.
In Genesis 28 is the story of Isaac telling Jacob to go to his Uncle’s house to find a wife; then Isaac Blesses Jacob again: “Now may El Shaddai Bless you and make you Fruitful and multiply you so that you will become an assembly of Peoples. May He give you The Blessing of Abraham, to you and your seed with you that you may take possession of the land of your sojourn, which GOD Gave to Abraham.” (Genesis 28:1-4)
Jacob continues his journey to his Uncle Laban’s where he experiences Love at first sight when he meets Rachel, Laban’s daughter. When Laban is informed that his sister’s son is there he runs to greet him (Laban is the one who ran to meet Abraham’s servant when he came to get a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:29), when Isaac was 40 years old, now Isaac is over 100 years old (he lived to be 180 Genesis 35:28-29), so Laban is 60 years older himself and still active).
Jacob stays there a month, but not just sitting around because Laban says that he should start paying Jacob for his work (Genesis 29:14-15). Jacob wants to marry Rachel so he tells Laban he will work for him for 7 years for Rachel. They agreed.
The first deception: Seven years later Jacob asks for Rachel in marriage and Laban arranges a wedding ceremony and celebration. Jacob is deceived because he has celebrated too much and wakes up with Leah, Rachel’s older sister.
Jacob asks his uncle, “What is this you have done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked with you? So why have you deceived me?” Laban replied, “It’s not done so in our place (custom) – to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the bridle week for this one. Then we’ll also give you this other – for work that you will do with me – another 7 years more.” (Genesis 29:25-27) Jacob agreed, so after the bridal week Laban gave Rachel to Jacob as a wife. Then Jacob took Rachael as his wife and he loved her more than he loved Leah (Genesis 29:28-30).
Then the wife war began, between Leah, Rachel and their handmaids Zilpah and Bilhah they gave birth to 11 sons and 1 daughter in about 13 years (Genesis 29:31-30:24; Genesis 31:38-41).
After the 14 years of Jacob working for Laban Jacob was ready to take his family and leave but Laban convinced him to stay and Jacob said on one condition, let me continue to care for your sheep but pay me with the spotted, stripped and dark colored sheep and goats (Genesis 30:25-36).
Jacob separated the sheep and goats, Laban’s were the pure ones and Jacobs were the spotted, stripped and dark ones.
Jacob’s first deception of Laban: according to a dream he had (Genesis 31:11-13) was to place pieces of wood that had stripes or spots on them or were dark in color when they would breed and the ewes would bear stripped, spotted or dark lambs. Jacob became wealthy (Genesis 30:43).
GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the
rest of His Servants not to do!
GOD wants to
make Jacob prosperous so He gives Jacob a plan in a dream on how to increase
his herd, but this is also a judgment against Laban who did not worship GOD. After
6 years GOD tells Jacob to return to his families land. Also we see GOD
controlling the fertility of women and the birthing of babies. What did He do
for Miriam (Mary) and Joseph of Nazareth? GOD created in Mariam’s virgin womb
Himself as a human to be His Only Begotten Son – JESUS; and GOD Called Joseph to
father His Only Begotten Son – Jesus! Wow!
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