The Trickster Tricked

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 119:73-80

Psalm 119:73–80 ESV

Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

Scripture Memory: Genesis 50:19-20

Genesis 50:19–20 “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:18-25 (Gideon?)

Romans 8:18–25 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Sermon:

Good Morning Church! I was Glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

Though I will admit. This particular week, I do so with a bit of a heavy heart.

In many ways, I take pride in the fact that. I do not get political. When I come here and stand in the Pulpit. I firmly believe from the bottom of my heart that my job here is not to represent any side of any political divide. My goal here is not to speak to the letters behind someone's name, be it a “D” or an “R”. But I am required, I believe I do have a duty to both God and this church to Speak to rights and wrong to bring the word of God to bear on consciences and hearts. That I do have a responsibility to Care for the Afflicted, the downtrodden, the brokenhearted. It is my responsibility to speak to the effects of sin. In the world around us.

And as I look around us the Brokenness of the world Is Manifest as plain as day. We have, In our nation, a divide. That is deep and profound. And we have people. Acting out of anger. Violence. Prejudice. Hatred. Animosity. Foolishness. Arrogance.

And it's leading to more and more trials and troubles and problems and difficulty. And I do not see, to be frank and honest, Much hope

Both sides Rejoice in death. Both sides Rejoice in the downfall, and misfortune of those that they are against.

Both sides. Are guilty.

And as I studied God's word this week, As I dove into the passage that we will look into, I'll be honest.... I started feeling more and more hopeless.

Today, we'll be looking at the story of Jacob marrying both Leah and Rachel. And as you read many commentaries and you read many people's opinion of what's going on here? The way the picture is painted. The way the story is told. Is that Jacob? Is? Tasting the fruit of his lies and deception. You lie, you cheat. You steal to gain a Birthright to gain a blessing. Then, you will be lied to cheated on and stolen from.

It's many people's point of view. And there is a sense where that is correct. But I like to caution us, but also start our our mind, thinking in the correct direction. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. I will repay. In so far as it is up to, you live peaceably with all Paul will say.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Scripture does not glorify us going out and making sure everyone gets what they deserve.

To the contrary, scripture Teaches us that we ought to with humility, kindness, love, and generosity. Seek to make peace.

And sometimes we might get taken advantage of. And sometimes we might be wrong and take advantage of others. Above, all of this God is Sovereign. And in control. So before we even dive in. Here's my message of Hope for us all today. God is still on the throne. God is still working. And what many, what anyone, what all intend and mean for evil… God means it for good.

So, no matter which side of the the aisle you fall on, no matter where you land on all of the chaos and nonsense that is going on in the world around us. God is good. And God is Sovereign. May we trust in that!

Our passage for today, Genesis chapter 29, verses 1 through 30. This morning.

It is the story of Jacob. Getting to his uncle's house? And then, being tricked and deceived into marrying two different wives. Laying the foundation for pain and difficulty for Generations... if not Millennia. To come.

Instead of reading the whole thing, my goal today is to reveal the story to us. Help us to see clearly what's going on. And engage with the narrative as it is presented to us. So before we dive into God's word, let's start with the word of prayer today.

Our Holy Father in Heaven, great and awesome is your name. You are good, and you do good, and we praise you for all of your wondrous works. We thank you for your kindness, which leads us to repentance, for your patience with us in our wandering, and your great love for us - Love that cause you to send to us your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To you, the Word, our savior and intercessor, our friend, and brother, we also offer all glory, honor, praise and adoration -- for you are worthy. When we were dead in sins and trespasses you came to redeem us. You came to us, a broken people and have made us whole, taking from us a heart of stone and giving to us a heart of flesh, your law written upon it so that we may serve, and love, and please you. In you we find the yes, and the Amen, to all the promises of God. And though you have gone (soon to return), you -- with the Father -- have sent to us a comforter, the Holy Spirit, and for this we are grateful too.

To you Holy Spirit we also offer all thanks and praise that is due to your name. You have shown us the Son, our savior, and you have brought to our remembrance all that he has taught us. You have given to us peace and sealed us, keeping us secure until the appearance of the Son. You have given to us precious gifts, and wrought within us love, joy, peace, patience and more.

And so we ask of you, Oh triune God, above all else that you would glorify yourself today. For who you are and what you have done we praise you! As we, your people gather to sing your praise, to hear from your word, magnify yourself and give to us insight and understanding. As we your people prepare to hear from the word, show us your truth. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see all that you are.

In Jesus Name we pray AMEN

Genesis 29:1 “Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.”

Pause. “Then”, what's the “then”? He just had this amazing dream where God was standing on the top of a ladder, the bottom of the ladder was on Earth, the the top extended up into heaven. There were Angels going up and down upon this ladder. And God has reiterated the Covenant promises made to Abraham. The Covenant promises made to Isaac are now the Covenant promises made to Jacob. Descendants, blessing, land. God will be with him and keep him. He will return. But in order to return, he still has to go. And so, after being told you will return, God will bless he will take care of you...Jacob, worships God. He sets up an altar there. He consecrates it. He worships God. He in many ways makes a deal with God: God, Since you will do this since, you will save since you will return since you will bless. Since you will keep, I will serve you. He will be my God. I will be yours. It's a heavily loaded “then”. “Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the people of the East”.

Between the hen, and then he gets to the people of the East. It's about 400 miles on foot by himself. It's a long journey.… thats out context

Genesis 29:1–8 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.”

Here is the story opens. We spend our time. Setting the stage.

SETTING the STAGE

Jacob is far from home. Again, 400 miles. Between Bethel where he had this vision, and now here he arrives at the doorstep of his uncle's house. It's been a long time. Jacob here is is shown to us to be a stranger. It's in the very first verse. These are the people of the East.

But he's also a stranger because he doesn't even know where they're from. Where do you come from? He asked to these Shepherds. It's an interesting way for him to ask “where in the world am I”? Because Jacob stands wherever they're from... If that makes sense,

It's as if we go somewhere to show up in Las Cruces. I'm, like, oh, where's this church located? We're here. This, this is Las Cruces. Where are you guys from? We're from Haran. This for Jacob is blessed news, for he has reached the end of his journey. But there's still a difficulty. This before the time of newspapers, cell phones. And the ability to know what's going on at any point and anytime across the whole face of God's green earth. He could not google an obituary to make sure hius uncle was still alive, there was no family group text message to make sure we know how everyone is doing...

So he made this journey, but there might be a problem he was supposed to go to his uncle's house. But what if his uncle hasn't made it? So it goes, he is older. Who knows what tragedy could have befallen him? So, he asks. Do you know Laban?

Maybe part of it is what he's asking. Is this the right Haran, right? Maybe, maybe I wanted to get to Las Vegas, Nevada, but end up in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and those very different places. I need to get to haran where Laban is, but I'm in haran where not Laban is, is he here?

Oh yeah, we know him.

Good news for Jacob! He's made it to where he needs to go. And they know Laban, but there's still one problem. What if he's not doing okay? And by doing okay. This could mean physically he could be sick, but but what he asks is a little bit more profound. The esv translated it this way. Is it well with him? The word that we have translated “well”. Most of us know the Hebrew word. It's Shalom.

Is he experiencing peace and blessing and goodness? Is he prosperous? Has God blessed his way, his family, his Affairs? Does he have peace? Shalom.

They said, it is. He's doing well. He's doing real well. He's doing so well that here comes Rachel, his daughter with all of his sheep. He's doing so well. That he's part of our conglomeration of Shepherds that all water are sheep at the same time. He's doing good.

But we still know, Jacob's not exactly from here. He doesn't know the Customs, which will come into play. This is foreshadowing... Jacob, not knowing the customs of the area foreshadows a tragedy that's going to befall him. But here. He asked what, wait, a second. It's, it's high day. I see Rachel's coming. This is the middle of the day. This is not the time we should be doing work. Maybe this whole business of rolling the stone and watering the Sheep, we should have already watered the Sheep. They should just be sleeping under the shade of a tree somewhere. Why are you doing it this way?

It's a good question on one level. I don't understand, he's asking why you're doing what you're doing here. I'm in a foreign place.

For Jacob this whole scen is a discovery… I don't even know if I'm in the right place. I am there. Okay, check. I don't really know who you guys are. I'll call you, my brothers.… Is my uncle good? he is… ok... But I don't know why you're doing this thing with the Sheep. This way, what's going on here? So we're waiting. Once Rachel gets here, we're all here. We will water. The sheep. So, the story continues. The stage is set. Jacob is in a strange place. With strange people. And maybe that's a little wrong, they are not STRAGE per se… strange. Let's say it differently. He's in a strange place with strangers. And different Customs. He doesn't understand. But he's in the right place. The stage is set.

Genesis 29:9–21 ESV

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. 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. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”

The stage is set, and then we meet the characters.

MEETING the CHARACTERS

In this story, we meet the characters. Two of them. We know we've seen them before

Jacob. He's the centerpiece. This is the the life of Jacob is what we are dealing with here.

Then Laban, we've met before as well, for he's the one who. Gave permission, accepted the Dowry, and then sent off Jacob's mother, Rebecca, to go marry Isaac. So, we've met Jacob, and we've met Laban. But there's two other characters we're introduced to here.

Verse 16 Laban had two daughters. The older was Leah. This is what we know of her: Her eyes were weak. What exactly does this mean? We just have to chalk this up into, I don't know exactly. It definitely has to do with her eyes… probably… They don't have that sparkle that fierceness. There's also this thought that eyes are the window to the soul, and so saying her eyes are weak is a way of saying like she didn't have that fighting spirit… maybe. We don't know exactly what it is. When i was in college we had this phrase that we would say, that in out context made sense, but you would not understand. The conversation would go like this: So I met a girl” O really, how is she, is she a CPT, no, she's a CPT times Three… (for those of you who are curious a CPT is a Cutie Pa-tootie, And A CPT times Three is a CPT but more so…) This is like her eyes being dim, I can tell you what the words mean, but there is a bit locked behind time and difference… But Jacob didn't find her to be the most attractive. We can say it that way.

And maybe it's just because of comparison, maybe? She was a fine looking young lady. She's older.. a fine looking lady! But, compared to the beauty and Splendor of her younger sister. It's hard to say she had much to offer. The way it's presented here. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.

She acted beautifully, and she was beautiful. We see this. She's the one working. She's the one who brought this the Sheep. She's the one who's laboring. She's a helper. In many ways, we look and see and understand the principles that we'll see later in Proverbs 31. She's there. She's she's doing the Commerce she's bringing for her father. A good name here. She's doing the right thing. She's beautiful. In form and in appearance.

So, our characters are Jacob looking for a wife, Laban. The one who has, in many ways, the authority to provide the wife. A weak eyed older sister. And the beautiful younger sister.

So we meet the characters. And we also see what's going to happen to and with those characters? Jacob's obviously been making a good name for himself, earning. A good reputation with Laban. Laban comes because you are my Kinsman. Should you, therefore, serve me for nothing?

for the month, the first month that Jacob is there, He works hard and diligently. He starts to learn the Customs is probably part of it, but you know, he says. I'll take the Sheep out to pasture today. I know I already went. I already rolled the rock. I already did all of that. I know how to feed the Sheep. I'll go do that. I'll do it. He works, he labors. Laban says, what do I owe you?

Jacob has no money to give as a dowry. He left in the cover of Darkness. He had nothing. He was alone. Says, let me work To pay the the fee to marry your daughter. And culturally, that sounds difficult for us. But note this… He loved her. He cared for Rachel. This isn't purely a an economic transaction here. This is in a time in a culture different from ours how things worked, but he loved Rachel. Verse 18 tells us Jacob loved Rachel. Loves her so much. He's willing to pay estimate at least double. What he should need toTo have the right to marry her: he will sacrifice seven years of his life for her... seven years.

Laban, as we'll see later in the story, knows a good deal when he sees it. That's okay, great. So I don't have to send her off to some stranger. She stays in the family as it were. And I get seven years of Labor. *WINK* seven years of Labor? Seven years, plus a month. That's what we know about at this point of the story... deal. And so, in verse 21, we've we've set the stage. We've met the characters we're ready to go, Jacob says. It's time, I've seven years, is up. I'd like to marry your daughter now.

Verse 22.

Genesis 29:22–30 ESV

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 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.

This is tricking the trickster.

TRICKING the TRICKSTER

Jacob. Is deceived.

Laban comes, he says. Okay, you're right, it's done. And again, if you're going to ask me, how exactly does Laban deceive Jacob into marrying the wrong woman? I don't know. Probably. Lots of alcohol. And darkness. And modesty. That's what I got for you. He probably wasn't fully right in his head. Probably things were done at night. Without artificial lighting. And likely many of these ceremonies were done, fully veiled fully. Covered fully. Overtly modest. Whatever it is. Jacob wakes up the next morning, verse 25.

And in the morning, behold? If you've been paying attention, as we've been reading through Genesis, this word, “behold”, it's sort of a like. It's used to emphasize, behold, this happened. Behold, look. Look again. He wakes up and look. Oh my goodness, here it is.

It's not the right daughter.

And Jacob's incredulous. What is it you have done to me? This is the same cry. That Esau has been saying to Jacob over and over again. Why have you done this? Why have you done this to me? Elsewhere in Genesis, we've seen this phrase. Why have you done this To me? it's been Abimelech and Pharaoh confronting Abraham and Isaac when they did the whole. She's not my wife, she's my sister maneuver.

What is this that you have done? What? What are you doing? What's with this deceit? Why have you lied?

I have.. Jacob is claiming,,, I have an inherent right to know the truth. I also have the inherent right to marry the daughter that you promised me that we made the deal for all along.

Jacob's been deceive. Laban's excuse is about as lame as they come - well in our country. We don't do it that way.

So, you're saying, for the past seven years? You could have told me that we could have worked our way around this. We could have figured it out instead. Laban you, you do this. You resort to this trickery and deception that could have been Jacob's response.

And maybe some sense that should have been Jacob's response.

In any way he's trapped. What else is he supposed to do? So, Laban strikes another deal. And if we added the times, it goes like this. He worked for a month. Then he makes a deal with Laban. Seven years at the end of seven years, he marries Leah and Laban says this finish the week. This, this is because the wedding ceremony would have been a week long a week of Celebration, rejoicing of of. This whole Community Gathering to celebrate this wedding finish the week of Leah. And then give me another seven years.

So, we paid seven years for the wife he didn't want. And he will work another seven years for the wife he wants. 14 years, one month and one week is the total time that Jacob will work here.

That is a STEEP payment.

And verse 30, we have Echoes what has been the difficulty. What has been the trial? What has been the impetus? For The Strife and trouble and difficulty in the lives of Jacob and Esau. Genesis chapter 25, verse 28 Isaac, loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebecca loved Jacob.

It is, in short, People giving love and affection in different ways to different people.

Genesis chapter 29, verse 30, so Jacob went into Rachel also and. He loved Rachel more than Leah.

Next week, we're going to dive into just the outpouring of all the difficulty of pain, suffering, and blessing that God will bring in this situation. But it'll start like this just to peek ahead. Verse 31 - When the Lord saw that Leah... Was hated.

It's not just that he looks, and he's, like, oh well, I love Rachel more.

There's hostility and anger difficulty. Laban. Is tricking the trickster here, sure. But lets think about this for a second to see this is why just a a surface level Jacob's getting what he deserved doesn't work right here.

Cuz Leah doesn't get what she deserves. Rachel doesn't get what she deserves. Does and does Jacob really deserve? The pain of these two wives? Does he really deserve to have to work four times longer than he probably should minimum four times longer than he probably should? For the hand of Rachel. Does he deserve all of this? It's hard to tell exactly what he deserves, because He didn’t do anything to Laban other than kindness and respect and hard labor…

Laban brings pain and difficulty, sorrow, and trouble upon his own daughters.

So one lesson… when you trick the trickster No one wins.

When we go around seeking our own Vengeance? No one wins .

When we do, what's right in our own eyes? No one wins.

And at the end of this story. It feels like no one wins.

Pain, difficulty trial, sorrow. In my sermon scheduling. This was sermon four or five that was called “more family trouble”, because that's what's going to lead to. More and more and more and more family trouble. People playing favorites. It's difficult and hard.

So, what's the point? What do we learn from this?

And this to be honest is where I struggled probably the most this week. What do we learn from this?

I think it is, I think we can say. You reap what you sow.

And if you sow in Deceit lying cheating, stealing? You will reap Lying, cheating, stealing. It's part of. I think another big part is something a a theme. We have been harping on over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Laban meant this for evil. There's no way around that. God will use it for good. God is still Sovereign over even this.

The trickster getting tricked all of these things. This is God working out his plan. Because, ultimately, from this. God will make a nation from these women. I'll just note and we'll discuss this next week. There were four women listed in this passage… for you careful readers you might see the beginning of this… from these four women. God will bring about 12 tribes. Then on top of that because of the strife and tension and lack of love here, Because of the difficulty and hostility. Here, God will bring an about that. These 12 Tribes will 12 tribes will be delivered.

Then From these 12 tribes will come priests, the tribe of Levi . And Kings, the tribe of Judah.

Eventually from even this Our great high priest. And the King of Kings and the Lord of lords.

God is working. Though the trickster is tricked, though deception runs rampant, though the world is broken, though there is pain and suffering and sin and sorrow all around. God is Seated on the throne. And so we read these stories. Like, what is going on? This is craziness. This is deceit and lying. And culturally, this isn't how things work. He not only married two wives, he married two wives that were his cousins. How do we deal? God's in control of ALL of it? And so we trust in him.

And he's using this to bring about his glorious Plan of Salvation.

So, what's the lesson?

There's a few. Here's the one that struck my heart the most. Maybe Laban is tricking the trickster? And maybe Jacob is just getting what he deserves.

But he takes it.

He endures.

He doesn't here… go back and and try to here deceive and and go back and say, oh, well, I'll do this. I'll do that. Or just say, you know what I'm done. I'm leaving Leah, I'm taking Rachel. I don't care what you want. He's, like, you know, I'm gonna go back. Get my dad and all of his servers and all this other stuff, which is, was quite expansive. We remember Abraham was able to defeat a coalition of five armies with his servants. It's only grown. We'll come back and I'll take what I deserve… He oculd have just left.. you know what seven years fealt like nothing,. but 14 years is too much to ask anyone,..... there could have been a lot of ways. This ends.… instead.. okay.

14 years, one month in a week. I'll work for you. Okay.

3There's still going to be strife and trouble and difficulty and trials… But it seems that in his time in Bethel. In seeing God and understanding God's promises, Jacob learned.

To say, whatever my lot thouh has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul...

May we learn the same thing?

Let's pray.