01-77 The Deceiver Deceived

Genesis 29:1-30

There was a slave and storyteller who lived in ancient Greece in the 7th century BC. A collection of fables attributed to him have become well-known thru the ages—Aesop’s Fables. Many of these stories are familiar: The tortoise and the hare, the boy who cried wolf, goose that laid golden eggs. One story is called “The Cobbler Turned Doctor.” It’s about an unsuccessful cobbler who decided to move to another town where no one knew him so he could work as a doctor and sell a drug as a cure against poison. When he became sick and was offered his own drug, he admitted that it was fake, which exposed him as a swindler.

The expression “to get a taste of your own medicine” is the moral of that story. It is in a sense what happens to Jacob in the account we have before us today. Jacob disguised himself and came to his father dressed like his brother Esau so that Isaac would give him the blessing instead. Isaac was tricked and gave Jacob the blessing rather than Esau which enraged Esau to the point of planning to kill Jacob. Rebekah heard about the plot and sent Jacob to her brother, Laban—far away from home until Esau’s rage subsided. As we have read, this time it is Jacob who is deceived by his uncle—the deceiver is deceived. Jacob gets a taste of his own medicine. But what we also find is that all of this maneuvering, plotting, scheming, deception, trickery is being providentially directed by God so that His purposes for Jacob, His promises made to Abraham & Isaac, are fulfilled thru Jacob’s children. God is not guilty of the unrighteous acts, but He is using them to bring about His purpose for His creation.

There are 4 headings that divide our vv today…

1. The Arrival of Jacob

1-8

“Then” Moses is very careful to connect the Jacob’s dream, in which God revealed Himself in a very personal and encouraging way. Jacobs sees a ladder/stairway that connects the visible world in which he lives and moves to the invisible world where God is actively directing the affairs of His universe. God assured Jacob that He would be with him, provide for him, and keep him on this journey to find a wife. Moses wants us to remember this when he writes “Then Jacob went…” (vs 1).

You may have a marginal note Heb lit “Jacob lifted up his feet.” This speaks of his eagerness to continue the 500 mile journey. And from what just happened we can surmise that Jacob walked with a lighter step. The heaviness of leaving his father and mother was dissipating now that Jacob was aware that God was with him in this place (28:16).

Moses notes that Laban’s home is the “land of the sons of the east.” This is where Haran is (from the general area where Abraham set out in ch 12).

vs 2 “looked and saw a well” Of course water is crucial anywhere—both for humans and livestock. This well was in the field which was outside the city of Haran and would provide water for outlying herds. There were 3 flocks of sheep lying beside the well which tells us this was an active well.

Another feature Moses describes is “the stone.” This is an important feature of the story and we are told that it was a large stone. This stone was very heavy and would require several men to move it in order to draw water from the well. It was so heavy that the shepherd who had already brought their sheep were waiting for other flocks to come so the shepherds could remove the heavy stone and thus cooperate with each other before replacing the stone (vs 3).

Now the stone was there for a couple of reasons: to prevent unauthorized use (by humans or animals) and to prevent contamination of the well. This was massive stone that needed several men to remove it—keep that in mind.

Jacob speaks with the shepherds who were waiting—vs 4. “we are from Haran.” Now this is remarkable. I don’t think Jacob knew exactly where he was. Its not like he had GPS coordinates to guide him to Haran from Beersheba. And yet, it was not coincidence that he found himself exactly where he needed to be.

The Lord had providentially directed his Jacob’s steps and evidence that God was indeed with him. The conversation continues— “do you know Laban” (vs 5).

vs 6— “is it well” (lit Is peace to him?—shalom) and they respond “it is shalom” and here comes his daughter Rachel, with the sheep. Rachel was a shepherdess.

Jacob’s response has a bit of criticism behind it—vs 7. He is concerned (not so much about Rachel at this point) for the sheep. And he thinks the shepherds may be a bit lazy. They weren’t working as hard as they should be and they needed to get back to work (water, go, pasture).

The shepherds pointed out the obvious problem being the heavy stone. They needed more shepherds to help move it before they could water the sheep (vs 8).

Pink says “There are no chance-happenings or accidents in a world that is governed by God.” God was directing Jacob to the well where he would meet his future wife. It is a lesson that we need to keep learning that with God there are no chance-happenings, no chance- meetings, no chance delays, no chance losses, no chance anythings in our lives. All is of Divine appointment. The same truth Jacob learned in his dream that God is with Him bears repeating for Xns today. God is with you and He is orchestrating the details of your life to accomplish His plan for your good. That’s not to say that we just let go and let God—Jacob had to set out on his journey, he had to take steps of obedience as he followed the Lord.

We have the same responsibility and the same promise.

2. The Attractiveness of Rachel

9-14

The name Rachel means “ewe lamb—young female sheep” and there’s a play on words here b/c she is a shepherdess coming to the field with her sheep.

This is when Jacob really notices Rachel (vs 9). Jacob becomes so infatuated with her beauty he musters some superhuman strength. He single handedly moves the heavy stone (probably several hundred pounds) from the well so Rachel can water her sheep. This is the ultimate form of chivalry, men! And how impressed she would have been with Jacob’s might. I think the only thing that can account for Jacob’s herculean power is the divine presence with him. Jacob says nothing, but after he removes the stone—sort of claims his prize: vs 11.

He kisses Rachel which was a common traditional greeting esp b/t family. Jacob knew they were related, she did not at this point. But as soon as she heard—vs 12.

Enthusiasm continues when Laban heard the news—embrace, kiss (which was a recognition of kinship). Jacob then related all that these things. What things?

How his sister Rebekah told her son to go to the house of Laban to look for a wife. How God appeared to him in a dream, how He led him to the exact spot where he would encounter a well outside the town and meet Rachel.

Laban responded (vs 14) This was similar to what Adam says of Eve (2:23). Laban knew there was close kinship and there was with that an acceptance of Jacob. He stayed for a month. How’s that for a stranger showing up on your doorstep? I’m not sure we’d show the same grace as then.

Jacob is on a mission to find a wife—the woman he met in the field, he was thinking she would do just fine. And so we have a 3rd heading:

3. The Arrangement Between Jacob & Laban

15-20

vs 15 “then…” after a month Jacob has proven his worth. He has a strong work ethic. He has been a hard-working, dependable man.

Genesis 31:6 NASB95

6 “You know that I have served your father with all my strength.

Jacob was truly a benefit to Laban (30:29-30). So after a month Laban says—vs 15.

Now, Jacob may have been looking for the right opportunity to bring up the subject and Laban opens the door for Jacob with that question. Jacob had already been thinking about it:

vs 16. Leah & Rachel

Rachel means “ewe lambs” and Leah means “bull or cow.” Which one would you choose? Jacob is not that shallow. Moses also tells us Leah’s eyes are weak. Because Moses is showing the contrast b/t the 2 sisters, her weak eyes probably meant something along the lines of “feeble” or lackluster in her appearance. On the other hand, Rachel was beautiful in form and face. The word form means appearance or outline. She has this hourglass form and it definitely caught Jacob’s eye.

Jacob was captivated by her beauty. She was attractive and Jacob didn’t need a sign from the Lord which to marry. He knew it and his wife to be was drop-dead gorgeous.

It was love at 1st sight—vs 18. So this was the agreement b/t the 2 men: work 7 years (the going rate was 3-4 years)…Laban knows the benefit of keeping marriage within the family (acceptable at this time).

vs 20… seemed to Jacob but a few days (b/c of his love). You can see the love, affection, adoration he has for this woman. This word for love is a passionate, fervent burning love. In Song of Solomon it is translated “lovesick” (2:5; 5:8). Sacrifice is easy when you love someone like this.

Time moved so quickly for him because of the sheer excitement, the thrill of expectation of the beauty of his soon to be wife. (BTW this is the same expression used by Rebekah to stay with Laban “a few days” until Esau’s anger subsides).

4. The Artifice of Laban

21-30

“artifice” not a common word: Cambridge dictionary “the use of a clever trick or something intended to deceive.” (artificial is related)

vs 21 Jacob’s tone suggests that Laban was holding out—taking as much from Jacob as he could possible get (after all he’s a hard worker—doing everything essentially that a slave would do—) “give me…that I may go in” That means to consummate the marriage thru sexual relations.

Laban agreed and held a feast (vs 22). The typical wedding featured processions to and from the bride’s dwelling. There was also the reading of the marriage contract. The feast was attended by both families and the community. And the first day’s festivities ended with the groom wrapping his cloak around the bride and taking her to his tent where the marriage was consummated. Following that, the feast continued for six more days.

vs 23—the substitution “in the evening” it’s late, dark, after feasting and no doubt consuming much wine Jacob would be given Laban’s daughter which he believed to be Rachel—the one he loved. But Laban brought Leah. The marriage was consummated—there was a physical relationship that night, cementing the marriage covenant.

I know you’re wondering “how do you confuse a cow for a lamb?” Darkness, a veil, wine, and Leah also had to play the part of deceiver. It wasn’t that long ago Jacob was playing the same role in pretending to be someone else. vs 24

Now that the day has dawned, Jacob realizes that his new bride was the uncomely Leah. And there was no way to reverse the consummation of marriage. Jacob confronted Laban that morning—vs 25.

Laban’s response (justifying his own sinful actions)—vs 26-30. “complete the week” (wedding feast of Leah)/”other” (Rachel).

Even though Jacob was betrayed and no doubt embarrassed, God was going to bring forth His promise of too many descendants to number. It would begin with Leah and her handmaiden Zilpah.

Jacob would have 6 sons and a daughter with Leah: Rueben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun (Dinah). Laban gives Zilpah to Leah to serve her in this marriage and everyone is going to add layers to the sin in this whole ordeal—Jacob will have relations with Zilpah and 2 more sons will be born to Jacob (Gad and Asher). 8 of Jacob’s sons, tribes of Israel will ultimately proceed from the deception and immorality.

Jacob will marry Rachel after 7 more years of service and there would be another wedding—the one Jacob wanted from the beginning. Laban gave Rachel a maid (Bilhah) and as you would guess, Jacob has 2 sons with her (Dan and Naphtali). Then there would be 2 more sons with Rachel (Joseph and Benjamin).

And the final word about this account of 2 marriages: vs 30 “Jacob loved more.” This will breed a bitter jealousy in the next passage and will prove to be very destructive later on (ch 37). This was a hard way to see God’s purposes fulfilled. Jacob has served Laban for 20 years (7,7,6).

Jacob gets a taste of his own medicine. Pink has this to say:

Gleanings in Genesis Jacob At Padan-Aram Genesis 29

First, he deceived his father and was, in turn, deceived by his father-in-law: Jacob came the younger for the elder to deceive Isaac, and has the elder daughter of Laban given instead of the younger for a wife. Second, we may mark the same principle at work in Jacob’’s wife. In deceiving Jacob in the matter of Leah, Laban tricked Rachel; later we find Rachel tricking Laban (Gen. 31:35). Again, we note how a mercenary spirit actuated Jacob in buying the birthright from Esau for a mess of pottage; the sequel to this was the mercenary spirit in Laban which caused him to change Jacob’’s wages ten times (see Gen. 31:41). Finally we may remark, what is most striking of all, that Jacob deceived Isaac by allowing his mother to cover his hands and neck with "the skins of the kids of the goats" (Gen. 27:16), and later Jacob’’s sons deceived him by dipping the coat of Joseph in the blood of "a kid of the goats" (Gen. 37:31) and making him believe an evil beast had devoured him: note, too, that Jacob deceived Isaac in regard to his favorite son (Esau), and so was Jacob deceived in regard to his favorite son (Joseph).

What can we take away from this account?

We might be tempted to read accounts of deception and trickery with such a casualness to be unmoved by the sinful actions of those who participate in such things. Nowhere is Jacob chided for his role in deceiving his father to receive the blessing. Neither is Laban condemned for his own subterfuge in the marriage of his daughters to Jacob. Even though there is not an immediate record of any consequences, those would come later in Jacob’s life and in the life of his own children.

The connection b/t evil-doing and its evil consequences is not always apparent. Paul writes

Galatians 6:7 NASB95

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

God does observe the ways of men:

Proverbs 15:3 NASB95

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.

He hates sin wherever it is found

Habakkuk 1:13 (NASB95)

13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor.

God Himself reveals that His righteous government requires that “every transgression and disobedience” receive a “just recompense.” (Heb 2:2)

Now, when transgression and disobedience is found among His own children the just recompense is not out of anger but love and not out of judgment but of discipline aimed at sanctification, conforming us into the image of Christ. So on the one hand, the lesson for a believer is to be truthful in all our dealings, to love the truth, speak the truth, live the truth…b/c our Lord is truth and it is into His image that we are in the process of being conformed.

The one who is outside of Christ, the lesson is different and it is an urgent message. The message of God is “flee from the wrath to come.” You should be aware of just how exceedingly sinful that sin truly is. Even lies and deceit are abominations to God and He will judge all transgression and disobedience and if your sin has not been paid for by the blood of JC, you will encounter the wrath that is to come. Flee from it by fleeing to the Lord Jesus. He is the only Savior, the only Refuge who has come into the world to save sinners—to Him be Glory forever, amen.