RACHEL AND LEAH
CHRISTIANITY OASIS HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH THIS RACHEL AND LEAH STUDY. MOST HAVE HEARD OF RACHEL AND LEAH BUT DO YOU KNOW THE WHOLE STORY OF RACHEL AND LEAH? LET US SEEK AND FIND THE TRUTH OF RACHEL AND LEAH TOGETHER, SHALL WE?

BOOK OF GENESIS

CHAPTER 29

            Welcome back to Daily Bread, I hope you are having a SON-sational day. I'm kinda excited to show ya what happens next so let's get to the study, shall we? When we left off the last time, Jacob was on his way to his Uncle Laban’s to hide from Esau until he cooled down about having his birthright and blessing overtaken by Jacob.  Jacob had a dream about a ladder that reached Heaven with angels on it, and spoke to God, who promised Jacob the blessings of the Covenant that He made with his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham before him.  All in all, things were looking very bright for Jacob.

            He continued on his journey to Haran which is the same place where Abraham’s family settled after they left Ur of the Chaldees two generations before.  That was a safe distance, being as it was nearly 500 miles away from his brother who sought to kill him.  In our contemporary world we really take for granted the modern methods of transportation that we use.  In those days, you didn’t just gas up the camel and go.  You needed provisions for it as well as for yourself for days on end of travel through desert conditions that were arid in the daytime and shivering at night.  Don’t forget about the friendly wildlife that may be abiding close by (wolves, coyote, boar) and the smaller insect type that reside in desert conditions (scorpions, centipedes, snakes).  And, what about those sleeping accommodations anyway?  Maps?  There probably weren’t even gadgets like compasses that we now consider inadequate.  Was Jacob overjoyed about the protection that the Lord promised that night with over 400 miles to go still?  In our lives today, are we satisfied and some have even become soft with the accommodations that the modern technology has provided. Beware those resources being removed by some catastrophe and being placed in a world where you must depend more on the old school method of things.  There are many opportunities when you read stories from the Bible to strengthen different characteristics in your own self that you admire of your heroes.  Watch and see in different instances how God rewards patience and gratitude and what happens to those who complain.  Just a little Daily Bread crumb for everyone to digest.

           Now, on with the story.  Jacob neared the city he was traveling to and he came to a field with a well where three flocks of sheep were lying.  A huge stone covered the mouth of the well.  Shepherds gathered their flocks there and when it was time to water the sheep, the stone was rolled away.  Jacob asked the shepherds where they were from and they told him they were from Haran.  He asked if they knew Laban and if he was well.  They told him that He was well and that his daughter Rachel would be arriving soon with her father’s sheep. 

            When Rachel got there with the flock, Jacob rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the sheep for her.  Jacob fell in love with Rachel immediately and it moved him to tears.  He kissed her and told her that he was Rebekah’s son and Rachel ran and told her father.

            When Laban heard the news that his nephew was there he ran to greet him and brought Jacob to his house.  Jacob told Laban the reason why he was there and Laban welcomed him to stay with them. 

            After a month had passed, Laban said to Jacob, Just because you are family, you shouldn’t work for nothing.  What can I pay you?

            Laban had two daughters.  Rachel was the younger of the two and the oldest was Leah.  Rachel was beautiful and Leah was plain. 

            Jacob said, I’ll work for seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.  Laban said, It’s better that I give her to you that anybody else.  Stay with me.  And Jacob worked for the seven years for Rachel, but his love for her was so deep that it seemed like only a few days to him.

            Jacob told Laban, I have worked for seven years, now I would like to marry Rachel.  Laban gathered his friends and made a feast.  When it was dark, Laban took his oldest daughter Leah and sent her in to Jacob. 

            In the morning, Jacob saw that it wasn’t Rachel and was furious with Laban.  What have you done to me?  Didn’t I work for you for Rachel?  Why did you deceive me?

            Laban answered, In our country the younger shouldn’t be given in marriage before the oldest.  Stay with Leah for a week, and then you can have Rachel for a wife too, but you’ll have to work another seven years for her. 

            So, after one week, Jacob married Rachel, then worked for Laban another seven years.  Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, and when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel was barren.

            Have you ever noticed that God always sticks up for the underdog?  Leah must have had a good heart, and that’s what God sees, not the outward appearance, 1 Samuel 16:7.

            Here is a little Daily Bread crumb of information.  In the days of the Bible, a person’s name was a very important part of who they were.  It was a one word story of what your parents hoped for you or prophecy of a person’s future. It often revealed an event or incident that happened just before or at the time the child was born.  The name Leah means weary or tired.  The Bible says that she was “tender” eyed.  You can imagine how a person’s name could affect someone’s life.

            Leah conceived and had a son.  She said, the Lord has seen my suffering and she named him Reuben, which means, Who sees the son.  And she conceived again and had another son and said the Lord has heard that I was hated, and she called him Simeon, which means hearing.  She had a third son, and she said, because I have given him three sons, this time my husband will be joined to me. She named the child Levi, which means, Joined with him.  Leah had a fourth son, and said I will praise the Lord, and she named him Judah, which means, Praise.  After that, Leah stopped having children.

            An interesting start for Jacob’s family, and a few interesting things for you to ponder on as well.  Taking things for granted, gratitude, becoming more like our heroes, and looking beyond beauty to the heart of people.

            Next time we’ll find out more about the life of Jacob and his wish to go back to his home country so click on to Daily Bread again soon. 

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