Reaping What You Sow: Genesis 29
The story of Jacob, the son of Isaac, and the grandson of Abraham is very interesting because when he was born, he was holding on to his twin brother’s heel who came out of the birth canal first. Jacob’s name means supplanter (someone who replaces or overthrows a thing or someone) as in the case of Jacob replacing his brother Esau in the birthright and receiving the first-born blessing from their father Isaac. Jacob was known as a deceiver, a trickster, because of how he obtained the birthright and how he deceived his father for the blessing that should have gone to Esau. We can safely say that Jacob was not a person of good character in this stage of his life. He probably learned some of these things from his mother Rebekah who came up with the plan to deceive her husband Isaac. Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite son and Esau was Isaac’s favorite son.
As we discussed last week, Jacob tricked his father and stole the firstborn blessing given by his father Isaac. When Esau returned from hunting, cooked a delicious meal for his father, and was expecting to receive his father’s blessing, he was devastated to find that he had been tricked by his brother once again. He hated Jacob and had murder in his heart towards Jacob. Rebekah instructed Jacob to flee to her brother Laban’s home until it was safe to come back. She instructed him to find a wife there as well.
Little did Jacob know that his stay with Laban would take twenty years of his life and he would never see his mother again. Jacob goes to Laban’s house as instructed and helps him with his livestock business. After a month, Laban says to Jacob, “I need to pay you for your work. How much do you want?” Now Laban had two daughters, Leah, the oldest and Rachel the younger. Rachel was beautiful and Jacob had fallen in love with her. Jacob asked Laban to give his daughter in marriage to him and he would work for him for seven years. Laban agreed and Jacob happily worked for him knowing that he would have Rachel as his wife.
Time went by quickly for Jacob because he loved Rachel very much. Seven years passed and he asked Laban to give him Rachel to be his wife. A wedding feast was held and that night Jacob slept with his new wife for the very first time. Jacob may have celebrated too much because he didn’t realize that Leah had replaced Rachel and in the morning Jacob discovered that he had slept with Leah and not Rachel.
Jacob was not happy to find that he had been deceived by Laban and the two sisters. When Jacob confronted Laban, his father-in-law said that it was the custom in his country for the older daughter to be married first before the younger. How ironic that Jacob had supplanted his older brother for the birthright and blessing and now the older sister had supplanted the younger sister in marriage to Jacob. Laban had a solution, he told Jacob to fulfill his honeymoon week with Leah and agree to work another seven years for him and he would give Rachel to him as his wife as well. Jacob agreed and fulfilled his week with Leah and then received Rachel as his second wife.
Fortunately for Jacob, he didn’t have to wait another seven years. He loved Rachel more than Leah and Leah knew it.
Jacob, the deceiver, and trickster, gets deceived himself. What a shock it must have been to finally finish seven years of labor and discover that he had married the wrong wife.
Did Jacob reap what he sowed? He deceived his father and stole from his brother and had his mother as an accomplice. At this point in his life, he is working for love and gets cheated out of his first love. What an emotional experience that must have been. But Jacob had a promise of blessings on his life from God.
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Personal Development Tip of the week:
Perhaps you are going through some difficulties, unfair circumstances, poor choices, or reaping what you may have sown, remember God has a great plan for your life, but He may be working on your heart and character to prepare you for your future. We all have issues and the good news is that God works with those with weaknesses and character flaws. Just ask God to help you in every situation because He loves you so much and wants the very best for you. (John 3:16; Hebrews 12:5-11)
Question for you? What do you think God want’s you to work on in this season of your life?
Prayer for the week
Thank You Father that I am a conqueror over what the enemy, Satan, has planned for me. I am covered by the blood of Jesus which has forgiven me of all sin and I continue to testify of Your loving kindness, tender mercies, and awesome grace. I am deeply loved and highly favored by You in Jesus name, Amen.
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Do you know Jesus?
If you have never asked Jesus to be the leader of your life and forgive you of all your sins, this is the right time to act. Pray this simple prayer and believe it in your heart: “Dear God, Your Word says that You loved me so much that You sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for me. I want to be saved and have all my sins forgiven, past, present, and future. Forgive me now as I receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. You promised me salvation and an abundant life. I believe and receive Your free gift. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me grow stronger in You each day, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.” (John 3:16)
Reaping What You Sow