And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
Genesis 29: 19 (NKJV)
Disciples are sometimes charged with their actions not matching their words. The Bible gives one example of when that happened. This devotion looks at how God can take our experiences and turn them around for His good.
Nuggets
- Whatever his intent and purpose, Laban’s words did not match his actions.
- God knew that Jacob would only and always see Rachel as his soul mate.
- Leah must have been on strict orders not to open her mouth and give away who she was.
- Rachel must have been in seclusion.
- God used the situation to further His kingdom by making sure Jacob would have 12 children.
Sometimes, actions do not follow what words have said. Case in point: Laban. He was Rebekah’s brother and Jacob’s uncle. He had a huge impact on Jacob’s life.
God had promised Abraham that he would have many descendants. However, between he and Isaac, they didn’t have many children. Enter Jacob.
Laban agreed that, upon the end of working for him seven years, Jacob’s payment would be his daughter Rachel’s hand in marriage. However, after the seven years were up, Laban’s actions did not follow his words.
Let's Put It into Context
When we get to this chapter in Genesis, we have already read about where Jacob connived to get the birthright away from his brother Esau (Gen. 25: 29-34) and lied to his father to get the blessing that accompanies the birthright (Gen. 27: 1-29). We generally have formed an opinion that Jacob really isn’t a person of integrity.
Yes, Jacob had a come-to-Jesus meeting at Bethel (Gen. 28: 10-22). That seemed to start Jacob’s transformation into a better man.
Still, we generally chuckle (or at least smile) when karma rears its head and the deceiver is deceived. Unfortunately, we sometimes have enough human in us to stand and cheer when people get what is coming to them.
But let’s take a look at Laban. He is very slippery in what he actually says to Jacob.
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Two of a Kind
In verse 19, Laban said he will give “her” to Jacob. We don’t consider that a dangling pronoun because we assume, as did Jacob, that Laban is talking about Rachel. Maybe he was; maybe he wasn’t.
Then in verse 21, Jacob said, “… give me my wife …” (Gen. 19: 21 NKJV). He assumed that wife is not dangling but that it is referring back to the agreement. Laban, on the other hand, had other thoughts.
We don’t know if Laban always intended to switch Leah for Rachel (or switch her if she hadn’t found a husband by then). If it was the custom that the older be married first (Gen. 29: 26), he conveniently left that out of the agreement. Plus, wouldn’t Jacob know that?
Whatever his intent and purpose, Laban’s words did not match his actions. He let Jacob think for seven years that he was working for Rachel. Then surprise, Leah was uncovered the morning after (Gen. 29: 25).
Growing up, we just heard about Jacob and Laban. But think about it. Leah and Rachel had to be in on it.
The Conspiracy Factor
Leah
We tend to think Leah got the sweet end of the wedding deal. She is described as having something wrong with her. It may possibly be she had something wrong with her eyes. It may be that she just couldn’t hold a candle to supermodel Rachel.
Whatever, in a land where ladies married early, Leah didn’t. Apparently, Laban didn’t think she had any prospects, either.
That set the groundwork for the big switch. Here Jacob was, set to marry the love of his life — and he couldn’t tell it was not her.
Leah must have been on strict orders not to open her mouth and give away who she was. Apparently, she didn’t have to say, “I do” or Jacob would have said “I don’t.” So, Leah had to keep quiet for what? 12 hours maybe? Probably six at the screaming outside.
Rachel
But look at it from Rachel’s viewpoint. There is nothing in the scriptures that says Rachel felt any differently about Jacob than he did for her.
So, here is the love of Rachel’s life marrying her sister. Her sister is getting the wedding she always dreamed of having (because it doesn’t say they threw a second big party the next week when Rachel and Jacob finally got to get married).
Rachel may have known that Laban eventually was going to give her as a wife to Jacob. But she couldn’t go to the wedding party.
Oh, wouldn’t that have been priceless? Rachel slides up to her cousin Levi and says, “How is it going?” He’s doing this dramatic double take. “Aren’t you supposed to be over there in the wedding party?” So, no. Rachel must have been in seclusion.
Yes, all in all, Rachel came out okay. Leah may have gotten the wedding, but Rachel got the honeymoon.
The God Factor
But let’s look at it from this way. God was wanting to build a nation. He had picked Abraham. He had picked Isaac. Now, He had picked Jacob.
Yes, God picked Rachel, too. But for reasons only He knows, He decided that she would only have two kids. Yes, Abraham had Isaac and Ishmael (plus more later in life), and Isaac had Jacob and Esau.
Still, the nation wasn’t getting anywhere fast. God wanted a big population boost here.
God knew that Jacob would only and always see Rachel as his soul mate. God wanted to get the party started.
No, I don’t know why God had to go and choose sisters. “As long as your wife is alive, don’t cause trouble for her by taking one of her sisters as a second wife” (Lev 18: 18 CEV).
And then to add two more wives on top of that. (Laban gave servants to each of the girls, who became wives in the baby war.)
Yes, God had to do something. Jacob would have been content with just Rachel.
God used the situation to further His kingdom by making sure Jacob would have 12 children.
Making the Connections
Isn’t it amazing how God will take our choices and work things out to expand His kingdom? Even if they were Laban’s wrong choices.
We think God is only going to use perfect people. He doesn’t.
More times than not, God uses the broken to reveal Himself to us. Let’s do a roll call.
- Moses was a stutterer.
- Noah was a drunk.
- David was an adulterer and murderer.
- Peter was impulsive and a hot head.
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Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Keyboard: Chris Vieth
God chooses the faithful to do His work. He will equip us as needed.
But the world doesn’t always see us as faithful. They see that us as disciples of Jesus who are not following His laws and commandments.
The world says that our actions are not following our words. They say, “If you were really a disciple, you would ….”
We have to remember that our definitions are different than the world’s definitions. They see love as our tolerating any actions they choose because, hey, we love them.
We see love as loving them enough to share God with them, showing them where they need a personal relationship with Him, and securing their future in a much better place.
Unfortunately, sometimes our actions don’t follow our words. Disciples still sin. We aren’t going to stop sinning until we reach the pearly gates.
How Do We Apply This?
When our actions don’t follow our words, we have to confessed our sins to God and forgive ourselves. Satan will try to stop us in our tracks by trying to get us to think of ourselves as unworthy.
Yes, we have to obey God’s Word. Just because we can’t stop from sinning doesn’t give us license to sin. Get that loud and clear.
We have to be very mindful to make sure our actions do follow our words. We want to be people of integrity and honesty.
There may be times when we have to take stock of the situation and adjust. That may mean that we have to explain ourselves a little more than we normally would. It may mean we have to build relationships.
We have to see where God is moving, even in the not-so-good situations. He will use where we are to grow us to where we can be more useful in His kingdom.
Disciples should make every effort to ensure that our actions follow our words. We don’t want to be a stumbling block for others. We want to lead them to Christ.
We know we are still going to sin. We also know that God can take whatever situation we find ourselves in and true it into something good for His kingdom — and us. By doing this, He fulfills His promise to us.
Loving Heavenly Father. You have called us to be witnesses to those who do not know You. At times, they may see things that contradict either other things that are written in Your Word or their preconceived notions. Give us the words needed to show them the loving Father that You are. Help us to describe our experiences and understanding in a way that it gives them correct information so that they can turn their lives over to You. We pray, dear God, that we are not hindrances to their conversions and growth. Most of all Lord, we pray that we can always have that hope and joy in You enough in us that it spills over so others can see. Amen.
What do you think?
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