Read Genesis 29:15-28

Read Genesis 29:15-28

15 Laban said to Jacob, “You shouldn’t work for me for nothing just because you are my relative. How much pay do you want?” ¹⁶Laban had two daughters; the elder was named Leah, and the younger Rachel. ¹⁷Leah had lovely^p eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.

18 Jacob was in love with Rachel, so he said, “I will work seven years for you, if you will let me marry Rachel.”

19 Laban answered, “I would rather give her to you than to anyone else; stay here with me.” ²⁰Jacob worked seven years so that he could have Rachel, and the time seemed like only a few days to him, because he loved her.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “The time is up; let me marry your daughter.” ²²So Laban gave a wedding feast and invited everyone. ²³But that night, instead of Rachel, he took Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had intercourse with her. ²⁴(Laban gave his slave woman Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maid.) ²⁵Not until the next morning did Jacob discover that it was Leah. He went to Laban and said, “Why did you do this to me? I worked to get Rachel. Why have you tricked me?”

26 Laban answered, “It is not the custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder. ²⁷Wait until the week’s marriage celebrations are over, and I will give you Rachel, if you will work for me another seven years.”

28 Jacob agreed, and when the week of marriage celebrations was over, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

Think

Last week we read about Jacob sleeping out in the wilderness and realising that God was still with him.  In this story we read about how he came to meet and marry both Rachel and Leah (they did things differently in those days!)

This is the story of how God provides a great family for Jacob - fulfilling his promise to Abraham.

Pray

Lord, when Jacob was without hope you provided from him and fulfilled your promise to Abraham through him.

Thank you for not forgetting me.

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^p lovely; or weak.