Jacob Served Seven Years To Get Rachel

Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”

So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.

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?”

Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.”

And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

Genesis 29:16-30

Have you ever felt insignificant or second-best? Leah felt that way. The names Leah gave her children were plays on words that indicated the lack of love she felt from Jacob. She desperately hoped she would move up in Jacob’s affections and earn his love. Slowly Leah’s attitude changed, and she named her fourth son Judah, which means “Praise.” Though she felt unloved by her husband, perhaps she now realized she was greatly loved by God.

We can never ‘earn’ God’s love, because it is not dependent on what we do. In truth, the Bible tells us that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” In God’s eyes, we are worth the best that heaven can offer – the gift of his precious Son.

Nothing speaks more clearly of God’s love than the cross.

Our Daily Bread – February 14, 2013