The Story Through the Bible Gen 29

Arrival, Service, Deceit, Chosen

The 4 parts of verse 1-30 we’ll cover tonight. The first is the largest text so lets dive in.

Genesis 29:1–14 ESV

Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well. Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.” While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father. As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.

We see repeated twice that there is a large stone that covers the well. Apparently it stays in place until all the herds get together. I think the implication is that it’s a BIG stone and not something you casually want to deal with moving yourself so you wait for some buddies. Jacob seems a little bit incredulous that they’re just waiting around. He even uses three verbs all in the imperative form, which just means it’s a bossy verb. Although he was quite friendly in the greeting he doesn’t temper the directives that he gives the strangers he called brothers earlier. Water - Go - Pasture (feed them)

There is some implication that they’re likely being a bit lazy by just waiting around so they don’t have to lift the heavy stone with less people, and they don’t have to do all the walking and work of shepherding for most of the rest of the day. Early morning or late afternoon are the more likely times to water the sheep, on the way out to pasture, and on the way back in from pasturing. Jacob however is the bold and decisive guy who goes in and does it himself one Rachel shows up.

What echos have you picked up on from our story so far?

Jacob meets Rachel at a well—echoes of Rebekah and foreshadowing of Moses’ story. Rebekah meets the one seeking a bride at the well - Rachel meets one seeking a bride at the well. - Moses finds his wife because he sat at a well after he fled Egypt Rebekah waters the servant’s camels - Jacob waters Rachel’s flock

He's strong, emotional, and eager (v. 11 kiss + weep). Jacob is at his best, but things are about to go sideways…

Service for a Wife (vv. 15–20)

Genesis 29:15–20 ESV

Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Funny note on names… Leah means a cow and Rachel a ewe.

7 years pass "like days"— if this were Mark on a Sunday morning we’d work on our “Awe” right? This is the clear choice, the beatiful daughter is the one Jacob is going after. Every personal measure is one that Jacob is choosing.

3. Deceiver Deceived (vv. 21–25)

Genesis 29:21–25 ESV

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

Laban tricks Jacob—night, veil, celebration = perfect conditions for a reversal.

Echo of Jacob’s earlier deception with Isaac: now he can’t see clearly.

Point: God is just—but merciful. This isn’t just payback; it’s redirection.

4. The LORD Saw Leah (vv. 26–30)

Genesis 29:26–30 ESV

Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

Laban excuses the switch with tradition—but notice: no apology.

Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah.

God sees Leah’s pain and begins to work through her—key theme: rejected but chosen.

Here we start to see the rejected by the world become the chosen of God. That is certainly a theme that might be started in here by showing the deficiency first but certainly Noah was rejected yet chosen by God. Jacob might be considered “rejected” by the world because he certainly wasn’t his father’s favorite and is in exile as we’re going through this story. No matter where we start to trace this particular theme we can certainly see it begin to grow as a major theme.

We are chosen not because of who we are, what we look like, what we do, have done, or will do. God has that sovereign authority to choose as he wills.