How to get more than your money’s worth
Or in this case, How Laban got more than one daughter’s worth…
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 29:21-30
“Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”
“And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”
“Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.”
Laban gets double labour
Jacob made a deal and when it was time to pay up, Laban did a number on his cousin.
Laban’s excuse? “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.” Well, this was the first time Jacob was made aware. If it were so, surely that should have been part of the deal. Well, at least he and Rachel were married.
But once Jacob and Rachel were married, why didn’t Jacob simply leave?
A man of his word
Although we know from Jacob’s earlier history, that he made tough deals with his brother, he kept the deals — it served his best interest to do so.
This time, he was outdone. He had to remain another seven years — to protect his life, perhaps. Laban would have had servants who might have killed Jacob if he tried to leave.
But I also think Jacob was a man of his word. He was naive enough to think Laban would keep his word in the first deal, and that I think, shows he is relatively naive, but has a level of integrity Laban did not demonstrate. It is our integrity that often reveals our inability to see others who lack it.
So Laban tricked Jacob and would get another seven years of his labour. That would be very profitable for him. But it proves short-sighted I think, because he will lose both daughters’ hearts and (ultimately) their presence in his life.
But then, if all you want is wealth, you’ll get what you deserve.