29:1 So Jacob went on his journey. Through our conversations, prayers and meditations with God we develop our faith but also our game-plan. We establish with Him our goals, our values and our motivations. We explain to Him through our compassion, through the intention of our spirits where we would like our destination to be and then we allow Him to point and lead us toward it. Jacob went on his journey; although he had been travelling, his journey did not truly begin until he made a commitment with God and until God made a commitment with him.
29:2-3 Jacob reaches a well and surrounding the well are flocks of sheep. Sheep throughout the Bible represent God's children and He, our shepherd. Our guide, the One who gathers us and leads us toward sustenance not only for our bodies but also for our spirits. The sheep have been taken to the well to be watered. It is a beautiful symbol of God's love, He gathers us and pours into us His healing and loving water of life.
29:4-5 Jacob asks the owners of the sheep if they are familiar with his uncle, Laban and inquires after his health. The men explain that they do know Laban and that he is well.
29:6 During their conversation, a shepherdess walks toward them: her name is Rachel. Rachel is a daughter of Laban, Jacob's mother's brother.
29:7-8 Jacob has been raised to be productive. He knows how to take care of sheep and he encourages the men to do so (they appear to be a bit lazier than they should be). A heavy stone secures the well (implying that water is in short supply and closely monitored) and the men explain to Jacob that they are waiting for men to come move it.
29:9 Rachel approaches Jacob and the well... and captures Jacob's heart. Jacob's outright trust and love for Rachel is not necessarily blind or immature. We know that Jacob just had an intense conversation with God; they talked about his journey in life and the outcome and it is possible that God spoke to Jacob about Rachel.
God makes arrangements in our lives if and when we allow Him to. He knows what we need and what would bring us joy and motivation. He knows exactly what would benefit our lives, our characters and our hearts. Let Him be the matchmaker, not only in love but in all aspects of life. He's going to tailor your blessings to your greatest happiness.
29:10 Without help, Jacob moves the heavy stone anticipating Rachel's need of it. This reveals several things about Jacob's character: he's productive, motivated, and compassionate. He get's work done in a timely manner and anticipates the needs of others. He's not wasting time like the men around him.
It is also likely that Rachel has already begun to develop a relationship with God: this beautiful soul walks into her life and is about to completely change it. God talks to His children; he delights in surprising them with joyful blessings but he also consults them (us) on His plan beforehand. We must be listening otherwise we might miss it. Jacob and Rachel did not miss His blessings... in fact they both walk toward each other to greet their blessing head-on.
29:11-12 Jacob falls in love with Rachel. From this story we receive the facts but we must take a moment to consider Jacob's reaction: he kisses Rachel, vocally expresses his joy and weeps. He's overcome with love and joy. His reaction implies to us that he has just received a blessing from God he had been praying for.
When Isaac sensed that his son, Jacob, was looking for a wife, he directed him. But it began with Jacob's motivation to be in love. To find a soul to unite his with. In this moment, his prayer his answered and he's beyond grateful. He identifies himself as family and Rachel returns to her father's home to explain the situation.
29:13 Laban is overjoyed at the arrival of Jacob. The extended family knows at this point that Abraham's descendants are blessed and for one of his grandsons to have interest in his daughter is promising news for him.
29:14 Jacob is welcomed into Laban's home for more than one reason: Laban wants to marry his daughter(s) off and he also needs a productive worker on his land. He's not doing as well as Isaac (because he isn't commitment to faith with yields).
29:15-16 Laban asks Jacob how he can repay him for all of his work on his land. Laban has his own ideas in mind but is yet to reveal them. Laban has two daughters: Leah (the eldest) and Rachel.
29:17 Leah is described to be delicate in nature and Rachel beautiful (as a chosen wife by God for Jacob, we can understand that the true beauty she possessed was the character of her soul).
29:18 Jacob's proposition to Laban is that he will work for Laban for seven years in order to marry Rachel.
29:19 Laban agrees. In this time and context, it was a parent's responsibility to marry their children off. Laban cannot think of a more perfect (and for him, lucrative) match and makes the deal with Jacob. He invites Jacob to stay with him for the seven years of service.
Jacob's love for Rachel is real and honest. He's willing to devote a large portion of his life to obtaining her hand in marriage. This reveals that Jacob is willing to put in the effort to gain and keep what he loves. This character trait is required by faith: we must be willing to put in the effort in order to maintain our blessings and grow them. If Jacob only lusted after Rachel, he would not have been this committed to her. He easily could have married another girl without having to serve any time. Moreover, he probably could have convinced Laban to marry him with Rachel for nothing. Yet he was committed to marrying Rachel in a fair and honest way that also expressed his true love for her.
29:20 "So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her." Jacob is so in love with Rachel that the work does not seem like "work" to him at all. More than that, the considerable amount of time passing feels to him like merely a few days. Yet it has been seven years of working for Laban. Because Jacob so loved Rachel, it was all not only worth it, it was enjoyable because he was near her.
29:21 Jacob fulfilled his promise to Laban: he worked for seven years. At the culmination of the seven years, Jacob is ready to marry the love of his life.
29:22 Laban prepared a feast for celebration. He also begins his duplicitous plans.
29:23 Instead of offering Rachel to Jacob as he had agreed, Laban prepares Leah for marriage to Jacob. He disguises Leah in wedding garb and a veil and tricks Jacob into believing he is with Rachel. Jacob consummates his marriage to Leah unknowingly.
29:24 Laban gave Leah a maid, Zilpah as a wedding gift.
29:25 When Jacob realizes what Laban has done, he's extremely upset. Jacob followed his mother's advice in deceiving his father in order to obtain a birthright Esau traded (and then promptly took back) but this time the tables have turned.
29:26 Laban's excuse is that he could not marry his younger daughter before his elder daughter. If this were his true motivation, Laban might have discussed it beforehand (as in, seven years ago!). The fact is that Laban wants to marry of both of his daughters and he wants each exchange to be lucrative for him. It would be easier for him to marry Rachel because of her beauty and he saw an opportunity to marry Leah (who would have been harder to place). He took that opportunity.
Side note: God promised Abraham countless descendants: Sarah and Hagar enabled Abraham to produce double the amount of children and now through Rachel and Leah, Jacob could do the same. Even though neither man wanted multiple wives, the events of their lives and the dealings of those around him caused it to happen.
29:27 Laban begins to make another deal with Jacob: go forward with this marriage to Leah, work for me another seven years and then marry Rachel.
29:28 Jacob's love for Rachel motivated him to take Laban's deal. This story moves forward very quickly for us but take a moment to contemplate Jacob's struggle and strife. He dealt fairly with Laban and worked arduously... and yet life did not unfold perfectly. But what did happen was that Jacob received blessings along the way and ultimately did receive his greatest prayer: Rachel as his wife.
29:29 Laban gifted Bilhah, a maid, to Rachel as a wedding gift.
29:30 Jacob consummated his relationship with Rachel and really through no fault of his own, loved Rachel more than Leah. He had done all of this for her. Worked for her father, accepted her sister, forgiven her father for his duplicity, and worked again for him to get to marry her.
There is a strong but subtle message to us in Jacob's story: You are also responsible for loving in the same manner you wish to be loved. The love of Jacob's life was delivered to Him but he had to cherish her and earn her love in order to truly "have" her as his. He had to respect her and her family. He had to remain committed to his love. He had to love her actively and consistently. Not only do each of us deserve to be loved in such a way, we also have the responsibility of giving love in such a way.
Jacob's and Rachel's love story is beautiful and inspiring on the surface but there's a deeper and more passionate message within it: marriage is a commitment to effort on behalf of another. Love is a responsibility... a blessed opportunity but also a responsibility. We must be worthy of such a blessing.
29:31 God had compassion for Leah who was a pawn in her father's dealings. She blameless in the situation and yet she is a victim of a marriage lacking in love. To bring her joy, God blesses her with the ability conceive. Her sister, Rachel, however was unable.
29:32 Leah speaks: "The Lord has surely looked on my affliction...". Yes, Leah had a relationship with God. She spoke to him about her troubles and hopes and He listened and answered her. Leah wanted a child to love and to be loved by but she also wanted to earn some love from Jacob. She gives birth to his first child: a son named Reuben. Reuben means: Behold, a son.
29:33 God remains with Leah, as is His nature. He's always with us. Throughout our lives. Leah gives birth to another son, Simeon. Simeon means: Listening. Our God listens to our prayers with compassion and also with the motivation to fulfill them. To fill us with joy.
29:34 Leah gives birth to a third son (through continued prayer to God) and names him Levi. Levi means: Joined, Attached.
Jacob found love. It happened that the love of his life was unable to bear children. Yet God promised this family generations upon generations of descendants. God's will always finds a way.
29:35 Leah gives birth to a fourth son, Judah. Judah means: Praise. Leah became the mother of four of Jacob's children. She prayer consistently to God and she had gratitude for His love and blessings. Even though Leah was made a victim by her father, God enabled her to have joy in her life. He gifted her what she prayer for. Her faith allowed Him to deliver blessings into her life.
