The world is filled with all kinds of people, people who deceive and take advantage of those first stepping out on their own. Jacob was about to meet such a person, a close relative at that! Beware, and be aware, of people and their promises.
Genesis 29:1-35
Jacob was looking for his mother’s people. He had never met them, he didn’t know them.
Near noon one day, Jacob asked some men standing where he saw flocks of sheep gathered by a large stone covering a well. Where are you from? Haran, they replied.
Then Jacob asked, Do you know Laban? We know him, and here comes his daughter, Rachel with their sheep. Jacob was puzzled and said, It’s not noon yet, it’s not time to water the livestock. The sheep need water then pasture. The men said, We can’t do that until all the flocks are here, then the stone will be rolled away and all the sheep will have water.
Rachel came near the well, for she was a shepherdess. Jacob saw Rachel and the sheep, he rolled the stone away and her sheep had water. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept. Rachel ran home with the news that Jacob, Rebekah’s son, had come.
Laban, Rachel’s dad, ran to Jacob, kissed him and embraced him. Bringing him back to his home. Jacob told why he had come, to find a wife from his mother’s family. Laban accepted him and Jacob stayed with this family for four weeks. Laban made a deal with Jacob, Jacob was not to work for nothing… wages were discussed.
Laban had two daughters, the oldest daughter was Leah and the younger, Rachel. Rachel was beautiful and Jacob loved her. Leah was not as attractive. Jacob said I will serve you, Laban, and work for you for seven years then have Rachel for my wife. Laban agreed to this.
Laban deceived Jacob. After working for seven years, Jacob went to his wedding. What Jacob did not know, Leah was substituted for Rachel and Leah became Jacob’s wife. Jacob discovered the deception the morning after the wedding, too late!
Laban intentionally told a lie, he misrepresented the truth with the intent to mislead Jacob into marriage to Leah, whom Jacob did not love.
Jacob confronted Laban, and Laban said, It is not customary for the younger daughter to wed before the older daughter. We are only doing what is customary.
Jacob deceived his father and he was deceived by Laban.
Laban said, serve seven more years and Rachel will be yours, also. A deal was worked out, after seven days, Jacob wed Rachel and worked for deceptive Laban for seven more years.
Genesis 29:27, 30
What Jacob was to learn:
Psalm 15:2
“He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.”
What Jacob experienced:
Psalm 109:2
“For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me;
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.”
God’s Word ~ Alive!
Deception misrepresents the truth, it is called lying.