Genesis 29:15-27

¹⁵ Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me as a favor? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

¹⁶ And Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

¹⁷ Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in shape and appearance.

¹⁸ Jacob loved Rachel. And he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

¹⁹ Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; remain living with me.”

²⁰ So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him only a few days because of the love he had for her.

²¹ Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my days are completed.”

²² So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.

²³ But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.

²⁴ (Laban had given his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)

²⁵ And in the morning, see, 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?”

²⁶ Laban said, “It is not customary in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. ²⁷ Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”

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trusting amid consequences

God is at work in the background of Jacob’s life, making sure that he stays with Laban long enough to cool down the anger of Esau, and so preserve Jacob’s life by his grace. But God has not forgotten that Jacob had gained the birthright by deception. So, he allows Jacob to be deceived in a similar manner. Jacob wakes up with his new bride and discovers that it is the wrong sister. No doubt it crossed his mind that not long ago he had pretended to be his brother in order to get what he wanted. God remembered. Although God saves us by grace, there are consequences to sin in our lives. Maturity as a Christian means trusting that the God of all grace will walk with you as you face them.

LORD, we accept your grace and the total forgiveness you offer in Christ. But we will not turn from you if you visit us with consequences of our past actions. We trust you to be with us whatever we face.