I Will Praise the Lord

9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 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. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 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.

15-20 Jacob asks for Rachel and Laban agrees

21-30

Jacob takes his wife, but is tricked and receives Leah instead of Rachel

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 29:15–30

Now, as the object of trickery, he would understand how Esau felt. Laban offered a technicality of local custom: it is not right to marry the younger … before the older. Those words must have pierced Jacob! In his earlier days he, the younger, had deceptively pretended before his father to be the older brother (chap. 27). If social convention were to be set aside, it should be by God, not by deception. Laban’s stinging words were left without any comment; the event was simply God’s decree against Jacob.

Jacob confronts Laban and then receives Rachel and must work another 7 years

Laban also gives servants to his daughters as wedding gifts

On having many wives:

Does the Bible support this? Or does the Bible Report it?

Does God Approve of this? Or does God USE this?

Some things God approved of that later became wrong. Marriage to family: Cain, Noah’s sons

Some things were designed in a specific way from the start. God did not provide Adam many partners, only EVE

Every instance of polygamy shows mans lust for pleasure, not a flaw in God’s design.

Deuteronomy 17:17 ESV

17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

1 Kings 11:3–4 ESV

3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Some would claim God does approve of this in the way He speaks to David:

2 Samuel 12:7–8 ESV

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.

God is not approving, God is showing his total control.

God does not approve of David & Bathsheba and David is punished for it, but that does not stop God from using the sinfulness of man to achieve His Holy goals, the bloodline by which Jesus would be born.

The following events are happening during Jacobs time working for Laban:

Genesis 29:31–32 ESV

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”

Genesis 29:33–34 ESV

33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.

Genesis 29:35 ESV

35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

We praise God in times of celebration.

We praise God in times of distress.

We praise God when we don’t receive our desires.

We praise God when we recognize He kept our best interests in mind.

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