Jacob’s flight from his brother Esau takes him north to Haran (where God initially appeared to Abraham). His mother sent him there to stay with his uncle, Laban. Laban has the same conniving personality as Jacob, and he gives Jacob a taste of his own medicine. All Jacob wants from Laban is to marry his daughter Rachel and to that end he works for him for seven years. On the wedding night, however, Laban switches his daughter so that Jacob consummates the marriage with Rachel’s older sister Leah. This ruse was probably made possible since the bride would have been fully veiled right into the darkness of Jacob’s tent and Jacob would have been at least tipsy on the wedding wine. Jacob is then made to work for another seven years to get Rachel! Here is the point of this strange story: though Jacob is victim to Laban’s deceits, both in this case and many times after, he still comes out on top at the end, as we will see further on. Laban’s scheming does not ultimately deprive Jacob of his blessing. While previous events have shown us that God’s blessing is not conditional on the character of the one being blessed, this story shows us that God’s blessing is not conditional on circumstances. Jacob could not lose his blessing, not even by deceit, as Esau had lost his. He would win out in the end because God loved him. It is the same with you. God wants to bless you and no matter what misfortunes befall you, this will not thwart God’s purpose ultimately.
Thank God for how he has blessed you.
Read Genesis 29:1-30
