If you are going to study Genesis 29, you must give proper attention to all the people involved.
Jacob is the third of Israel's patriarchs, God's chosen nation's foundation, along with Jacob's father Abraham and grandfather Isaac. That fact does not necessarily speak to Jacob's character throughout his life, though. Remember, we are counted righteous because of our faith (Genesis 15:6; Psalm 106:31; Romans 4:3, 20-24; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23). For all of Jacob's moral failings as a deceiver, he was nothing if not resourceful. Jacob (Heel-Catcher) grabbed his brother Esau's heel at birth and spent the rest of his life "catching" everything he could from Esau as well, especially his birthright and blessing. Nonetheless, Jacob matured throughout his life. Old habits die hard, and he still had moments where that old nature would rear its ugly head. But Jacob reached a point in his life after wrestling with God for most of it when Jacob began to turn around. A notable example of this character change is his willingness to work 14 years to gain the woman he loved, Rachel, even after her father deceived this shrewd businessman as Jacob himself had deceived so many. Jacob became the father of Israel's 12 tribes, demonstrating God's faithfulness even when we are not. When faced with conflict, Jacob tended to rely more on his intellect and schemes than trusting God for the answers. This is why he deceived others for his own benefit so many times. But security does not come from how much we have. We must learn to trust God's plan. All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Selfishness is part of the sinful nature we all inherited from Adam, but not everyone turns selfishness into an art form and makes it a way of life. Laban is one of those people who did. The name Laban means "white." Perhaps he should have been named Narcissist, like Lex Luger's name when he first entered WWE, because Laban's whole life revolved around himself. Laban treated people like chess pieces in life's game, and he saw himself as the chessboard's master. In light of that, we could look at Laban and Jacob's interactions as a schemer's showdown, one that Jacob eventually won. Laban was good at it, but he ultimately ran up against someone much better. People who use others will eventually be used themselves. Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant (Galatians 6:7).
Women got the right to vote in America over 100 years ago, but that was not the beginning of women's rights. It was just the next step on the journey. Leah's time and place in history were many steps farther back on that journey. In her day, women were property, bargaining chips, and she happened to be the daughter of a man who saw everyone that way, not just women. Laban tricked Jacob into marrying a woman he did not love so that Jacob would serve him longer for Laban's other daughter that he did love. This was all done without Leah's input or consideration of her feelings. Leah was not stupid, though. She knew Jacob didn't love her, but she wanted him to. That's why Genesis 29:32 says her first son was named Reuben (See, a son) because she said, "The LORD saw my harsh treatment, and now my husband will love me." Leah was caught in the middle of a romantic love story that was not her own but one between her husband and her sister. But God loved her most of all. Even though it might not have felt like it during most of her life, God noticed her and cared for her more than she could imagine. And God honored Leah by including her son Judah as part of the family line of Jesus Christ, the head of the tribe from which the Messiah came.
The same well at which Rebekah met Abraham's servant Eliezer that eventually led to Rebekah becoming Isaac's wife is the one where Rebekah's son Jacob served Rachel 40 years later and fell in love with her. Jacob, the selfish deceiver, was bitten by the love bug, shot with Cupid's arrow, or whatever other cliché you want to use. He loved Rachel so much that he was willing to work for and be manipulated and deceived by her father Laban for 14 years just to be able to marry her. He even put up with being tricked into marrying Rachel's uglier sister Leah who he didn't love while waiting for Rachel. This eventually led to problems as polygamy usually does as the two sisters became jealous of each other. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, but God blessed Leah with more children and quicker than Rachel. If there was any character flaw in Rachel, it's that Rachel saw children as a sign of her husband's love for her. Jacob had already proven his love for Rachel by all he was willing to put up with for her. Rachel hungered for unconditional love from Jacob that she already had and that she should have sought from God primarily. But despite many years of frustrating infertility, God did finally bless her with sons, including Joseph, who figured prominently in Genesis' last section. Her loyalty is also noteworthy and should be celebrated and learned from. Perhaps the biggest lesson that can be learned from her life, though, is that love is given, not purchased, accepted, or rejected, but not earned.
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