Jacob: The Luke 6:31 Principle

In one of His sermons Jesus states these words found in Luke 6:31

Luke 6:31 NASB95

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

Paul would later state this concept in Galatians 5:14

Galatians 5:14 NASB95

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Paul would later write in that same letter… Galatians 6:7

Galatians 6:7 NASB95

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

Today’s message could be summed up in the word… CONSEQUENCES.

For you and I to think that we can live life according to our flesh and not suffer the consequences of such living is foolish. God is FORGIVING, God is GRACIOUS, God is also JUST and will allow sin to hold its consequences in our lives.

Genesis 29:1-30 :24 is a series of small incidents in Jacob’s life as he runs off to his Uncle Laban to find a wife. Through these series of events we see the ramifications of Jacob’s actions catch up with him. He is getting a dose of his own medicine so to speak!

Pursuit of Love

The first 20 verses outlines for us Jacob falling in love. We see similar things as to when Abraham’s servant found Rebekah, yet we also see some stark contrast.

Where we saw the servant fervently seek the Lord and His guidance, we see Jacob speak with the Lord at Bethel, but not so much once he arrives. There however is no doubt in the Lords leading as the reader sees the events unfold.

Verses 1-9 reveal a number of shepherds waiting at the well to water their sheep. There is a large rock over the well and they wait until all have arrived then remove the large rock.

We see a glimpse of Jacob’s work ethic and drive in verse 7 (this was not the typical time to gather… BUT THE STONE)

He may have character issues that need work, but Jacob was no slacker!

THEN COMES RACHEL!!!

Genesis 29:9-14 describes the first encounter…

Genesis 29:9–14 NASB95

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept. Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father. So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things. Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And he stayed with him a month.

We see similarities between Rebekah's and Rachel’s encounters in the narrative.

I doubt that Jacob included in his deception in “relating these things” to Laban

Jacob was in love… but the writer takes a brief pause in the love story to describe yet another daughter along with Rachel that Laban had… Her name is Leah Genesis 29:15-20

Genesis 29:15–20 NASB95

Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, 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. And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face. Now Jacob loved Rachel, so 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 to give her to another man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.

Two Daughters Described

Leah & Rachel

Older and Younger

Weak Eyes and Beautiful Form and Face

Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel are all noted as being beautiful women

We will see the irony in these contrast in the verses ahead....

His love caused time to fly by! Meanwhile Laban has produced free LABOR from Jacob for his daughters dowry using sly speech utilizing the family relation to smooth talk the deal!

NOTICE:

Rebekah and Laban are siblings (both utilize deceit to get what they want for themselves)

Rebekah’s son Jacob follows suit… and we will see his son’s in the future use deceit on their father as well

In ALL THREE situations we see it tear the family apart!!!

A Tangled Web of Lies

Genesis 29:21-30 is a messed up situation… we see the true colors of Laban revealed, and the deceiver becomes the one deceived!

Genesis 29:21–30n NASB95

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.” Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. “Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.” Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

SOOO… many ironies with switching the older for the younger, smooth talking to trick, deceive as Jacob had done to his brother and father!

This time he gets the wife on the front end of the deal… but such a sad statement “loving one more than the other”.

BTW… we will see numerous individuals in scripture have multiple wives… this is NOT God’s plan. Just because scripture records something does not make it right or good. Also note… each time it is recorded we see strife and difficulties.

In Genesis 29:31-30:24 we see multiple children being born. Note that it is God who opens and closes the womb, NOT man’s manipulation.

Leah is UNLOVED striving for his affection through these verses, hoping and praying that the sons she gives him would somehow earn his love.

Rachel is LOVED but bitter because she cannot give Jacob any children or a son

SLIDE of FAMILY TREE

A bitter rivalry ensues between these two women for the affection of Jacob through their children.

They even barter for time with Jacob in bed!

We see them manipulate, use their maids, and even resort to superstitions!

YET… we see CLEARLY it is GOD who is doing the work!

We see this rivalry play out through the naming of their children and the children of their maids.

Read these verses on your own and see the struggle going on in this poor family

Love and affection based on appearances or what one produces, rankings and favorites, cries of hurt and anger

A. P. Ross summarizes this section well… Certainly the passage shows how God prospered Jacob and started to make from him a great nation. All Israelites could thus look back and see their ancestry in Jacob and in the conflict of the women. As brothers the sons of Jacob, who became “Israel,” were not to become envious like their mothers.

To Israel these narratives were more than interesting little stories. The rivalry that appears here explains much of the tribal rivalry that followed. But Genesis is clear: God chose the despised mother, Leah, and exalted her to be the first mother. The kingly tribe of Judah and the priestly tribe of Levi trace back to her, in spite of Jacob’s love for Rachel and her son Joseph.

Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 77). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

SO WHAT!?

We learn today of another rough and difficult family situation… what does this do with you and me?

I believe all of us can relate with a past… A difficult family… Deceiving others or being deceived… (God is not by the way!)

Many here today blame their past… it remains your excuse for your behaviour, actions, inaction, and your excuse for sin (blame it on someone else, NOT ME!)

Some here today are hurting… through current situations… from past situations (God sees the hurting, unloved)

Let me point out two things:

ONE- We see a family sin trend… Abraham lied, Rebekah lies, Laban lies, Jacob lies, deceit is rooted in this family

One could come and feel pressed to continue on the same path of sin

YET… we will look at Joseph, Jacob’s son who is known in scripture as A Man of INTEGRITY!!!

Our past does not define us

SECONDLY- we all have sin in our life. we all have a past. We all need to echo the phrase Paul stated in 1 Timothy 1:15

1 Timothy 1:15 NASB95

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

It is with that in mind and that remembrance we come to the Lord’s Table for COMMUNION