Tag: Genesis 29

The Cheater is Cheated

*Genesis 29-30

Proverbs 15

Matthew 7

– Devotion by Steve Mattison (IN)

Jacob had run for his life to get away from his brother, Esau, whom he had cheated.  In Genesis 29, Jacob arrived in Padan Aram, his mother’s ancestral home, and went to a well.  Jacob was there not only to get away from his brother but also to look for a wife.  This was his lucky day.  He found his first cousin, Rachel, at the well.

After Rachel told her dad, Laban, he invited Jacob to live with them and work for him.  After spending a month working for Laban, Jacob’s uncle, Laban asked what wages Jacob would like as he continued to work.  In Genesis 29:18, we’re told, “Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your daughter Rachel.’”  (Remember, he had only known her for one month when he said this!)  Jacob must have been head over heels in love, because in Genesis 29:20, we read, “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.”

At the end of the seven years, Laban held a big wedding celebration. When Jacob woke up the next morning, Rachel’s older sister, Leah, was lying beside him.  Laban had tricked Jacob into marrying the wrong sister!  After complaining to Laban, Jacob agreed to work another 7 years for the wife he really wanted, and married her a week later.

Jacob had tricked his father and had cheated his brother.  Now, Jacob was tricked by his father-in-law, who would continue to cheat Jacob repeatedly for 20 years.

This is an example of a principle that we see demonstrated throughout scripture, and we see in our lives today.  Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.”  

In his early life, Jacob was opportunistic and deceitful – only looking out for himself.  After working for Laban for 20 years of hardships, Jacob grew to recognize he didn’t have to cheat to get ahead, but understood that God was looking out for him (See Genesis 31:38–42).

This isn’t just a story about a historical character and his family.  These principles still hold true for us today.  Even though God will forgive us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9), we will still suffer from the natural consequences of our actions.

There is an easier way.  We can save ourselves a lot of pain and trouble by just following God from the start.  But we each have to make that choice for ourselves.  What’s your choice?

Reflection Questions

  1. You might not have tricked your father or cheated your brother or son-in-law in such grandiose ways as Jacob and Laban did, but carefully consider your ways. Are there times you have been at least slightly deceptive or not totally truthful in trying to make yourself look better, others look worse, or get what you want?
  2. Have you seen the “reap what you sow” principle in someone else’s life? Did it help them or hurt them? Why? How about in your life? What have you been reaping and why? What are you currently sowing?
  3. In what ways do you think you are currently following God? Are there any ways in which you are still just doing your own thing, looking out for yourself?

Prayer

Dear God – I praise You for You are truth and righteousness. You are never deceived. You see me and know me and You still love me and desire what is best for me – You! I confess the times I selfishly lie, cheat, deceive, or misrepresent myself, others or the truth. May I put my full confidence in You. Help me follow You better today than I did yesterday. In Your Son’s name I pray.

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Jacob in Padan Aram

Today’s Bible Reading – Genesis 29 & 30 and Matthew 15

In Genesis 29, Jacob arrived in Padan Aram and found his first cousin, Rachel, at a well.  I’m immediately reminded of Genesis 24, where Abraham’s servant came to this same place, probably to this same well, and found Rebekah, the then-future wife of Isaac.  We’re not told if Jacob had prayed for God’s direction like Abraham’s servant did in Genesis 24.  But we do know Jacob went there not only to run away from his brother, whom he had cheated, but also to find a wife.  And bonus, Rachel was a virgin and was gorgeous.

After spending a month working for Laban, Jacob’s uncle, and working hard the whole time, Laban asked what wages Jacob would like as he continued to work for Laban.  In Genesis 29:18, we read, “Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”  He must have really been in love, because we’re told, “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.”  Wow, that sounds like a romance novel (although I haven’t actually ever read one).

At the end of seven years, there was a big wedding ceremony.  When Jacob woke up the next morning, he woke up with Rachel’s older sister, Leah.  Laban had tricked Jacob, and had him marry the wrong girl!  Personally, I can’t imagine how this happened.  Did Jacob celebrate a little too much to notice who he was marrying?  Leah had to be complicit in this subterfuge.  Did Leah keep her veil on until it was dark?  Did she not talk, because presumably the two sisters’ voices sounded different.  Where was Rachel while all this was happening?

Regardless of the answer to any of these questions, Jacob had been tricked into marrying the wrong sister.  After complaining to Laban, he agreed to work another 7 years for the wife he really wanted, and married her a week later.  

Polygamy may sound wrong to us, but there are several examples in the Old Testament of men marrying multiple women.  Having said that, there are no examples of this working out well anywhere in the Bible.  According to Jesus in Matthew 19:4-9, God intended from the beginning that one man would be married to one woman for life.

Anyway, Jacob had tricked his father, and had cheated his brother.  Now, Jacob was tricked by his father-in-law, and (spoiler alert) he would be cheated by his father-in-law repeatedly for 20 years.

This is an example of a principle that we see demonstrated throughout scripture, and in our lives today.  We read in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.”  You may have heard the old axiom, “What goes around comes around.”  Basically, these both mean the same thing – everyone eventually has to deal with the consequences of their actions.

But wait, God had promised rich blessings to Jacob.  Shouldn’t God have prevented Jacob’s problems?  Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.  Followers of God are promised, in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  This takes away God’s punishment for our sins, but it doesn’t take away the natural consequences of our actions.

Despite this, we can still rely on another promise, found in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

In his early life, Jacob was opportunistic and deceitful – looking out for number one.  After working for Laban for 20 years of hardships, Jacob grew to understand that God was looking out for him (See Genesis 31: 38-42).

I think this isn’t just the story of a historical character and his family.  I think these truths still hold true for us today, and we can learn from them.  God will forgive us if we confess and repent.  But we will receive natural consequences for our actions.  Despite this, if we are living in a right relationship with God, everything, even those natural consequences will turn out for our good.

There is an easier way.  We can save ourselves a lot of pain and trouble by just following God from the start.  But we each have to make that choice for ourselves.  What’s your choice?

–Steve Mattison

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