Genesis 29-30 - Jacob, Laban, Rachel and Leah...and the tangled web of deceit and bitterness
Read: Genesis 29-30
Having been forced to flee from his home and family in fear of his life, Jacob somewhat follows in the footsteps of his grandfather's servant when the latter set out to find a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24). He meets his future bride at the well where the sheep is watered, and then, like his predecessor, is taken to meet Laban. However, unlike the servant who comes laden with Abraham's wealth, Jacob is penniless and has to work for the right to marry Laban's daughter Rachel, who he has fallen in love with. This is no chore for the besotted Jacob, however, as the seven years 'seemed like only a few days to him' (29:20).
However, the tables are turned, and Jacob the deceiver becomes deceived! In fact, not only his he deceived, but the deception remarkably parallels his own deception to his father and Esau. While he colluded in his mother's plan to swap the elder for the younger, he becomes the victim of a similar swap, but this time the younger is replaced by the elder. Having met with Jacob during his journey and called him to his promise, God in his mercy teaches Jacob by releasing him into the sort of situation he caused to others. Jacob awakes from his wedding night to find that he has not been married to his love Rachel, but to her elder sister Leah. Jacob's insistence to also marry the woman he loves means that rather than following God's pattern for marriage between one man and one woman, he follows the surrounding culture and enters into polygamy, marrying Rachel and completing another seven years service to Laban for the privilege.
One wonders, however, what the women think of all this and where they stand. To Laban, it seems they are just commodities to be sold - one 'sub-standard' and difficult to shift due to her lack of attractiveness to men (that was Leah - and it's possible that the difficulty in marrying off Leah prompted Laban to deceive Jacob in the way he did). The women certain seem no more that property to Laban, as he says to Jacob: 'Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.’ (Genesis 29:27)
The women of the story certainly suffered through this situation, and it looks like bitterness, jealousy and resentment grew up between them. Are they then just the collateral damage from Jacob and Laban's sin, and Jacob's journey towards faith? I think that as we read on through Chapter 30 we can see that this is not the case. Whilst these women suffered, like all people who are splattered by the effects of sin in the world, their lives had meaning and purpose, and they are known and loved by God. God replaces Leah's society-given shame and disgrace with honour as he enables her to conceive multiple children. Rachel, the attractive one, had to learn humility and patience before she conceived a child. And yet, whilst we see God working his wisdom in their lives, both women respond to each other with resentment and jealousy.
The naming of Rachel and Leah's sons gives us some insight into their thought processes. Indeed, one could write a whole essay on it! But, in summary, as we watch them bear their children we ride the waves of emotion as they try to navigate their place in the family, battle for acceptance and, like so many before them, try to take matters into their own hands (following the example of their grandmother-in-law Sarah by trying to build a family through their servant women).
As chapter 30 rounds off, we're back to Jacob and Laban again, each deceiving each other through a confusing story of streaked and speckled goats. A first Laban tries to do Jacob out of his wages, but then Jacob uses more underhand tactics to ensure he gets the stronger flock.
As we follow the mess of deceit by the men and ride the waves of emotion experienced by the women, we are presented with a cautionary tale of putting our trust in the things of the world: wealth, relationships and the esteem of others. We can look and see ourselves reflected in the mirror and can reflect on the mess we find ourselves in. However, we can also marvel once more that this is the family on which God built his people Israel, to be his witness to the ancient world, and out of whom he himself would come in the person of Jesus.
Previous: Genesis 28: Found by God
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