A Tale of Two Wives

Tricking the Trickster: Narrative

Jacob has fled from his home and is on the run. Finally, after travelling some 500 miles, Jacob arrives in Abraham’s home country of Haran. Laban’s kinsmen seem to be lounging about, not working, and taking it easy. Jacob quickly finds out who these men are, that they know Laban, and then he sees Rachel. Rachel was absolutley stunning, a beautiful young lady. And when Jacob sees her, he knows he’s got to have her. So he does what any young man would do: he shows out. He goes over to Laban’s family well, which is covered by a massive stone.

Normally, this stone takes three men to move, but Jacob has to show out for this beautiful girl, so he musters all of his strength and heaves the stone aside. Then he walks up, as smooth as can be, and kisses Rachel on the cheek. Then he burst into tears, trying to show his emotional side, you know the ladies like that!

And thus another of Israel’s patriarchs met his wife. Funny how all the great leaders of Israel seem to meet their wife next to well: Isaac, Jacob, even Moses. Women and wells seem to go hand in hand in the Bible, that’s where all the ladies like to hang out (in my hometown, this would be the Sonic Drive-in).

So, when Laban sees Jacob, it’s not too hard to figure out that Jacob is absolutely enamored with Laban’s daughter. Laban, devious and wise as he is, uses this to his advantage. Now, normally, a young man like Jacob would pay a bride price to marry someone. Jacob, however, being an exile and fugitive, doesn’t have much to offer for Rachel. So Laban seizes this opportunity: he arranges to have Jacob pay the bride price with 7 years of labor. Here’s what’s wrong with that: The average wage of a shepherd is about 10 shekels of silver a year. The average bride price is about 30-40 shekels of silver. So Jacob is paying nearly double what a normal bride price would cost! Laban is definitely getting the better end of the deal here, but Jacob is young and in love, so what’s seven years of labor?

Finally, after seven long years of working the farm, it’s time for the wedding. Laban brings in the bride, covered by a veil, and they throw a huge feast. Jacob is eating and drinking and looking across the room at his veiled bride, excited: his hard work has finally paid off. That night, after it was dark, Laban brings the bride to Jacob’s room, and they consummate the marriage. When morning comes, Jacob rolls over next to his wife he’s worked seven years for, pulls the veil back to reveal not Rachel, but her older sister Leah!

We’ve heard this story somewhere before: Jacob and Esau. The trickster has been tricked using his own tactics! No big deal, Laban says. Just work another 7 years, and you can have Rachel too!

A Tale of Two Wives: Contention among Siblings

As you can imagine, the events at the beginning of this marriage don’t make married life very good for Leah. She’s the older sister, so she’s supposed to be married first, but her father had to trick someone into marrying her. Her husband didn’t want her, and she’s probably already grown up her whole life overshadowed by her younger sister’s beauty. Leah is likely reminded of this fact every day. Rachel, who’s name in Hebrew comes from “little lamb”, likely teased Leah, who’s name in Hebrew comes from “wild cow”.

And so, just as Jacob and Esau were at odds, Leah and Rachel were also destined to be at odds. Jacob, as the younger sibling, had stolen Esau’s birthright. For Leah, it must have seemed like the younger sibling Rachel had likewise stolen her husband. Jacob immediately began to show the same favoritism as his parents had for he and Esau, and this only made matters worse for Leah and Rachel’s relationship.

Fruit of the Womb: God’s Mercy on the Lowly

Who are We, that God would Remember?

A- The Trickster is Tricked: Telling the Story

B- A Tale of Two Wives: Contention between Siblings

Luke 1:48 NRSV

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

C- Fruit of the Womb: God’s Mercy on the Lowly

D- Who are We that God would Remember?

Psalm 8 NRSV

To the leader: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!