Genesis 29:1-1-5- Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
We don't know how long it took Jacob to get there. In those days, everyone walked or rode on camels or horses to get where they were going. But, Jacob finally arrived and he knew he was there because the people at the well knew his uncle.
Genesis 29:6-8- And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
As Jacob was asking the people of his uncle, his cousin came out with her father's sheep. And the people were explaining that they would gather around the well and wait for everyone to get there, then they would remove the covering from the top of the well and water the flocks.
This covering was probably a very heavy stone top. It was meant to be a little hard to move so that debris and people wouldn't fall into the well.
Genesis 29:9-10- And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
When Jacob saw Rachel, something in him made him want to help out. Probably because she was so beautiful that he had to show off how hard a worker he was. Or perhaps, he knew he was going to need a job while he was there and he wanted to show his skills. We don't know why exactly, but he certainly made an impression.
Genesis 29:11-14- And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
Rachel ran to tell her father about this stranger who claimed to be part of their family. Laban ran out to meet this boy. It had been years since he had seen his sister, and we don't know if he had heard how she was doing or anything like that. So he was really excited to get to know this stranger.
Laban brought Jacob to his house and asked him all about his family. After this conversation, Laban is convinced that Jacob is his sister's son. And Jacob moves in with Laban and his family.
Genesis 29:15- And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
Jacob has now lived with Laban for a month and has been working for him. Laban realizes that he should probably be paying Jacob for his services. So, he asks Jacob what he would like for a paycheck.
Genesis 29:16-18- And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
Jacob had been around Rachel for only a month, but he was convinced that he loved her and she was the one for him! He makes a deal with Laban that he would serve for seven years and get a wife as a paycheck. The only problem is that Jacob never asked God what he should do. Jacob was acting like Esau and thinking only about what he wanted.
Genesis 29:19-21- And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
Jacob served Laban for seven years. Not once in those seven years do we see anything about him talking with God or asking God what to do. It seems that Jacob has forgotten what was really important. Do you think God forgot?
Genesis 29:22-25- And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
Uh oh! Jacob was mad! He had worked for seven years for Rachel, and yet when he woke up to see his beloved wife in the morning, it was actually her sister! Well, Jacob went to Laban all in a huff!
Genesis 29:26-27- And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
Laban tells Jacob that he couldn't marry Rachel until Leah had been married because that was the custom in their country. So, Jacob makes another deal to work for seven more years and get Rachel for a wife also.
Again, we see that Jacob doesn't ask God, he just goes about trying to get what he wanted.
You see, God hadn't forgotten Jacob's deceit. Remember that Jacob deceived his father when he couldn't see? Well, Laban waited until it was really dark at night to switch things on Jacob. God made sure that Jacob paid for his sin of deceit.
But that wasn't all. God didn't want Jacob to marry Rachel. God wanted Jacob to marry Leah. Leah was the one who would be the good wife. Leah was the one who would believe in God and serve him. But Jacob didn't care. Jacob wanted his own way and not God's way.
Genesis 29:28-30- And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
Now, Jacob has two wives. God never intended for a man to have more than one wife. Jacob was out of God's will! But Jacob didn't care because he had what he wanted.
But we can't do our will and have our way without paying the price. Jacob was going to find out that not asking God and making deals to get what he wanted was going to cost him a whole lot more than he wanted to pay!
