Text: Genesis 29:20-35 (see below)
The storytelling in Genesis now reaches a summit point as Jacob eagerly awaits his bride. We must read this portion of text with a great deal of humor and appreciate its entertainment value. Walter Bruggemann in his commentary on this passage writes, “(The story’s) inherent playfulness is heightened by the fact that it is partisan lore. It permits the Israelites not only to laugh at the success of their hero, but to laugh at Laban. And through Laban, they laugh at their perennial antagonists, the Arameans” (Interpretation, page 250).
What I truly appreciate in Jacob is his complexity of character. He seems, from the beginning of his conception in Rebecca’s womb, to be wrestling with the natural order of things in the world, and this particular story is no exception. He wanted a birth rite and wrestled it away from Esau. Jacob wanted his father’s blessing and he tricked Isaac out of it. Now, Jacob wants Rachel for his wife so that the promise of God may be fulfilled and the hope of future be made manifest. But, Jacob is tricked. Leah is older. Rachel must wait; which means Jacob must wait (something he is not prone to do – are we?). In addition, the trickster does not have anything in his bag to foil Uncle Laban’s mischief. Jacob is a trickster and at other times a true believer and at other times a man in way over his head with family issues. Does this sound familiar to anybody out there?
Another underlying issue is God’s promise to this young man. God, in the previous episode, out in the desert, had promised to be with Jacob and to make his lineage great. It appears as if the promise is delayed by the interruption of human actions and desires. Yet, the promise is still sure and certain. This is Good News for all us. Sometimes the business of life can get in the way and disrupt the promises of the Holy One. Yet, if we are faithful and continue to follow God as best we can, the blessings and promise are fulfilled.
I trust you will continue to read these marvelous narratives found in the pages of Genesis. We are the descendents of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Leah and Rachel. The promise made to those dear ones thousands of years ago is ours today to celebrate and to continue.
Love One Another – Brian
Note – Tomorrow, I am starting a seven part series on Questions That Every Congregation Should Be Asking. I hope you will join me in the reflection.
God’s Promises
Corrie Ten Boom
Let God's promises shine on your problems.
Source: quotegarden.com
Genesis 29:20-35
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.’ 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 maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) When morning came, 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, ‘This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me for another seven years.’ Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.) So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years.
When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, ‘Because the Lord has looked on my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.’ 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 named him Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, ‘Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons’; therefore he was named Levi. She conceived again and bore a son, and said, ‘This time I will praise the Lord’; therefore she named him Judah; then she ceased bearing.
No comments:
Post a Comment