In this chapter we see Jacob deceived by Laban in very much the same manner as Jacob deceived his father. As I have quoted before, we do in fact reap what we sow. Even the righteous are treated this way. I believe we all can think of times when we treated someone unfairly, justified it (and we it might well be justified), and then were upset when it happened to us. His plan will unfold. So the question begged now is what about Laban and his daughter…….for those that do not already know….we will have to see but the answers are coming.
As a side note I am sure that many are wondering just how you can get two women confused…..back in those times a woman remained veiled until she went in to the “honeymoon” suite. By the time that happened it was dark. It would have been pretty easy to pass one daughter off as the other.
We all have heard that phrase “labor of love” Jacob worked for 7 years and did not get what he expected. As a matter of fact he worked for 7 years and got exactly what he did not want. 7 years waiting, and working, only to be deceived. Now here is the hook in my opinion. While the seven years flew by for Jacob when he thought he was doing it for Rachel, the next seven must have been pretty hard. I say that because it is human nature. It is one thing to work toward a goal, or desire, and then get the reward. However the following seven years were worked as a debt, not as a goal. Anyone who has credit cards knows what I am talking about. Once you get what you want, the drive is not as great to pay for it. So in my mind this is Jacob’s lesson for deceiving his father. Yes the birthright, and the blessing was his, the Lord had willed it. However now there is a price to pay for forcing it to happen. I don’t want to make it sound as if God is punishing Jacob, because I do not think that punishment is the right word. When things like this happen I think of it more as a way for God to give us perspective. Nothing is a better teacher than experience. We might not get it the first time around, but if you notice in life the same lessons keep coming up until we get it right.
Peace,
Brian
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