Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr

Let us continue with the exciting adventures of Jacob, the Deceiver. We last left him at a place called Bethel where he had had a strange dream and had received the promises of God as had his father and his grandfather before him. Jacob journeys onward to the land of Haran and there he finds "true love." But he also meets his match in his father-in-law Laban. But, let's let the text tell the story.

Genesis 29

Key Words: "love"; "loved"

Key Verse: The whole process of conception was controlled by God according to the comment in verse 21.

Purpose Statement: A beginning of the account of the rise of the seed promised to Abraham. Abraham was one. Isaac was one. Jacob was one. Now many are born to him.

Outline: Jacob and His Family

I. Jacob meets Rachel and Laban (vs. 1-14)
II. Jacob and his marriages (vs. 15-30)
A. His love for Rachel (vs. 15-21)
B. His tricked marriage to Leah (vs. 22-27)
C. His marriage to Rachel (vs. 28-30)
III. Children by Leah (vs. 31-35)
A. Reuben (vs. 31-32)
B. Simeon (vs. 33)
C. Levi (vs. 34)
D. Judah (vs. 35)

Questions to Probe: What was significant about serving seven years in order to obtain a wife? Was there really a custom that stated that the older must be married before the younger?

Thoughts to Probe: Wells must have been popular places to court a wife in those days. Isaac, Jacob, and Moses all found their brides there. Also, this chapter, we see the classic problem of polygamy - unequal love. You cannot love two wives the same. One is always going to be treated better than the other. What self-control Jacob must have had sexually as he waited those seven years for Rachel.

This is one of the most incredible love stories ever recorded. Jacob fell in love with Rachel almost from the very first moment he laid eyes on her. And the Bible says that his seven years of labor for her hand in marriage seemed to him just a few days. (I wonder how many men today would serve their future father-in-law even one year for his daughter's hand in marriage?) Then comes the truly incredible event. Jacob is married...to the wrong girl...and he does not even know it until after his wedding night. Verse 25 stated is so well: When morning came, there was Leah. How could this have happened? Was Jacob so blinded by love that he could not tell the difference between Rachel and her sister? Just as he had tricked Esau out of the blessing, someone had now tricked him out of the rightful bride. I wonder if Jacob thought about that. We have no profound answers but I find the story incredible to believe. I am certain of this, the next seven years did not fly by as quickly as did the previous ones.

Study Notes: A minimum of 14 years takes place during this chapter. The sequence goes something like this:
- Jacob stays initially for one month with Laban as a guest (vs. 14)
- Jacob works seven years in order to purchase Rachel as his wife (vs.20)
- Jacob marries the wrong woman (vs. 23)
- Jacob then marries Rachel a week later (vs. 28)
- Jacob works seven years for Laban (vs. 30)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills. (William A. Ward)

Genesis 28 Return to Table of Contents Genesis 30-31