THE BOOK OF GENESIS. Laban deceives Jacob.

JACOB DECEIVED BY THE DECEIVER .. LABAN !

THE MARRIAGE!

Jacob without knowing it had walked into a house of Deception. Laban the supplanter intended to deceive Jacob, he had met his match!
Now Laban had two daughters. The eldest daughter was Leah. She had tender eyes.
Most translations say that she was “weak eyed” The Heb “Rak” translate it as being “timid”..”weak”.. “attractive.”

Rachel as we already know was translated in the Heb as, “Yaphath -“Toar.” “Being beautiful in shape, lovely countenance, features and appearance”
“She was lively and vivacious well favoured by people.”

When the seven years were fulfilled, Jacob said to Laban. “Give me my wife for my time is completed.”
The women gathered with Laban’s wife and daughters in the private room to prepare the bride. (Imagine how Rachel must be feeling, watching the women dressing Leah!)

The men crowded into Laban’s courtyard where they enjoyed entertainment and some light food.

Jacob sat nervously, almost speechless, yet beaming with delight!

After the ceremony, Laban led his heavy veiled daughter and Jacob to their new home. She was dressed in the most expensive raiment with gorgeous jewellery adorning her hair, ears, nose and throat. She sparkled in the moonlight!!

The marriage chamber was so dimly lit that Jacob had not recognised that..
He… Married … LEAH!

At the dawn of the first morning, as natural light began to lighten the room, Jacob stirred, turned over to face his wife..It was Leah!??
He stormed out of bed..threw on his clothes..and ran to Laban’s home.

(Now, imagine how poor Leah felt on the first morning of her marriage.) She began to cry, then sobbed tears of grief!

Jacob was so angry and also very near to tears.
Jacob started to bang profusely on Laban’s door. Sleepy Laban opened the door and with a half smile upon his face said, “morning my son, did you enjoy “Fellowship” with my daughter?”

Jacob shouted, “I served you for seven years for Rachel, I thought I was with her all night long. Why have you deceived me, old man?
You are a fraud! not a father,”

“Son, son, it’s our custom, l thought you knew!” (Lies followed deception.) “The firstborn is always married first.”

“Now serve me another seven years for Rachel and you may marry her when the week of feasting is over for Leah.”

RACHEL.

So Jacob married the woman he truly loved and served Laban for another seven years.
He loved Rachel More than Leah.

Now Rachel was barren and Leah was fruitful in child bearing. So she used this as an advantage to win Jacob’s love. The evil Spirit of rejection was at work now in Jacob’s family,
causing both sisters to become rivals.

Yet through all this, God was working out his purposes. Jacob is being humbled and later in our story Laban’s deception comes right back on himself!

Maybe you have made mistakes and wanted your own way, maybe you also have made wrong choices. You don’t have to live a miserable life for the rest of your days.

Give it all to Jesus..Confess your sins and God can miraculously turn things around and fulfil His plans for you. As it says in Jeremiah, “His Plans are Good!” Jer 29:11.

“SOMETIMES SECOND IS BETTER!!”

Memorise this verse from Roms 8:28.

“WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD. TO THEM THAT ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING
TO HIS PURPOSES.”

Amen.