The "bait and switch"

 October 22, 2020 (Thursday)

 

Upon Jacob’s arrival in Harran, his uncle Laban’s response is to welcome Jacob. However, we are going to watch as this relationship sours. “As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things.” [Genesis 29:13 NIV]

 

The trouble begins to brew over a bargain for Laban’s daughters. “Laban said to Jacob, “You shouldn’t have to work for free just because you are my relative. Tell me what you would like to be paid.” [Genesis 29:15 CEB] Laban had two daughters. They are described, “Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.” [Genesis 29:17 NIV]

 

We don’t know what “weak eyes” meant. Possibly it was poor eye sight or a sensitivity to light (which in a culture where everyone was need to work would lessen her value as an individual). Rachel, on the other hand, had all the qualities that would cause a man to drool. Jacob suggests to Laban an exchange of seven years of labor for Rachel.

 

“So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.” [Genesis 29:20 ESV] Here the story takes an ironic twist. Jacob who deceived his brother out of his birthright and blessing, now becomes the victim. “Jacob said to Laban, “The time has come. Give me my wife so that I may sleep with her.” [Genesis 29:21 CEB]

 

Laban arranges the marriage feast. His problem is Leah is probably not going to have any marriage prospects. So, he cooks up an idea; one I cannot imagine working without some “liquid persuasion.” “However, in the evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he slept with her.” [Genesis 29:23 CEB] Even under the cover of darkness or a veil, there should be no way Jacob could mistake the love of his life for her sister. Alcohol makes people stupid.

 

Imagine being married to a man who didn’t love you. Imagine the honeymoon knowing when the week was over your husband was going to marry the love of his life. “So that is what Jacob did. He completed the celebratory week with this woman, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.” [Genesis 29:28 CEB] Most translations insert Leah’s name in this verse, it doesn’t appear in the Hebrew text. The fact Leah is not identified by name is derogatory, as if she was not worth mentioning. Jacob did not just love Rachel, he loathed Leah. 

 

“Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.” [Genesis 29:30 NIV] This "bait and switch" becomes the flash point for some ugly family relations. We will get into this in later studies.

 

In case you are wondering God does take sides. “When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to have children.” [Genesis 29:31 CEB]

 

Once again, we have an example of what happens when God’s design is violated by humans. I have a lifetime warrantee on my vehicle, only if I adhere to the maintenance schedule. As humans, our sinful behavior has voided the warrantee on our lives and this physical world. Thus, we live in a diseased, dying, and decaying world.

 

Only the blood of Jesus can begin to heal us and work the curse backward. Only the Holy Spirit can transform us out of the mindset of this bruised, battered, and broken world.