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15 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?" 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "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; stay with me." 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but 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 time is completed." 22 So Laban gathered together all the people 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 gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 25 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?" 26 Laban said, "This is not done in our country—giving 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." 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. (Genesis 29:15-28 NRSV)
Happy Wednesday to you, dear Friend! Praying all is well with you. As a prayer request, some have suggested asking for rain; our forecast here says perhaps later in the week we may see some; and then we add to the mix a tropical depression that may be forming in the Gulf. Praise Report, all went well with my neighbor, Mr. Hector Cruz. He's home and recovering; doctors do not need to see him for a long time! Pray for one another; pray for yourselves.
Someone has said that in this story, the king of cons gets conned. Jacob, you will remember, was a rascal when it came to making deals and coming out ahead, even if it meant cheating a brother out of his birthright, and so it may seem right to some, that he finally gets his. Here's the story. It might have been love at first sight; Jacob saw the daughter of Laban and found her very attractive. Remember, he was on the run, all alone, afraid, fearing for his life, and then sets his eyes on a woman he finds very beautiful and perhaps perfect for marriage. This is an ancient story, and it is true that Laban, the father of Rachel, is related to Jacob, and some have added that upon meeting Jacob, Laban may have adopted him as a son, as was a custom in those times, for verse 14 (not in today's reading) included the phrase, "my bone and my flesh" which was part of ancient adoption services. It could also have been to indicate that Laban does recognize the family resemblances and affirms those. We hear, "Oh you have the Valverde ears," which does not indicate people are willing to adopt us necessarily. Yet, as the story develops, that adoption or family tie goes the way of Jacob becoming a servant.
It's been a month and nephew and uncle are talking. Uncle Laban says to the young man, "I think it's only fair that since you've been helping out on the ranch I should pay you for your services." I mean, biscuits and red gravy are fine and they go a long way, but one can't go into town and buy anything with just a full stomach, right? And the boy had been thinking and his heart was on Rachel. So, instead of a six-figure salary, he wants Rachel as his wages. The story reminds us that Laban had two daughters; Leah, the oldest and it mentioned in this version that her eyes were "lovely." Other versions say, "her eyes were weak." It could mean one of two things; she could have worn glasses had they been available in those days, or they lack luster, which among people that loved sparkling eyes didn't cut it. I leave it to you to make up your mind. The story does say that Rachel was "beautiful of form and face." Okay, that one doesn't require much, they spell it out for you.
So, Jacob names the terms, saying he would work seven years for his bride. And Laban agrees. This was love at any cost, though he set the terms himself. Someone might have said a year, or two, but Jacob likes a solid biblical number of seven. Laban likes the idea that his daughter would go with someone like Jacob. And Jacob begins to mark on his calendar the days until he completed the seven. He also downloaded the app Countdown which would let him know as the seconds, minutes, and hours passed, just how much longer he had to wait. The app finally beeped and Jacob danced as he marked the last day on the wall calendar. It was one of those discounted cat calendars you can get at Dollar Tree after the start of the year!
"Uncle Laban! Today's the day you go from being my uncle to Daddy-in-law!" Yes, sounds strange, but this was happening in another time where this was permitted. Hey, until 2005, Texans could marry their first cousins, so stop wagging your fingers at the happy couple! FYI there are still 19 states where this is still allowed. I won't name them so you don't start planning an overnight trip! (I am joking, okay!) I also add that in six states, you can marry your first cousin on the condition that you will not reproduce.
The wedding is held, in their custom, which was a big banquet or barbecue, and as far as we know, no standing at the altar to pronounce one married to the other; it was understood... or so Jacob thought. Their custom was to have the meal, having worked out all the details prior to the feast, and when it was all over, the couple would make their way to the bridal tent. Now, as to the sober condition of the groom, it does not say; and he might just have been tired and sleepy, but when the bride came into the tent, they consummated the marriage. It was at first light when hubby reached over to kiss wifey that Jacob realized that his new wife was older sister Leah, the one with the "lovely eyes!" "Hold on, Uncle Labe!" And he discovered that he had been conned. It was not common practice in that area, or among those people, to allow the younger daughter to marry before the older. Uh oh. And Uncle Labe said, "Work this week, and I'll give you Rachel, plus add another seven years for her." Gulp.
Yes, friends, two wives, with two maids thrown in as wedding gifts, and all at the low cost of fourteen years of hard work. And they all lived happily ever after? Not on this planet. We know the rest of the story, Jacob loved Rachel and he tolerated Leah. Friends, I remind us that the Bible is an honest book, full of pimples and wrinkles, scars and warts; no one perfect, nor presented as such. The only perfect person we encounter in the pages of our sacred book is Jesus. We have a story that might keep us up tonight as we discuss it with someone, or may play out as something we can't quite fathom, but remember, "all things work for good for those who love the Lord" from yesterday? This is why. The present picture may not gibe well with us, but we need to see the bigger picture of God. As Jesus spoke in Monday's gospel lesson, there are many different manifestations of faith and work before God, and they all count. We ask where do I fit in? What is it I offer to the Lord? How am I working in my family or in my setting as someone who is concerned about God and God's people outside of my realm?
PRAYER: Loving God, bless our hearts and minds to experience Your love so that whatever we may be facing or enduring, we know You are right here with us. Grant us wisdom and peace. Let us bless You. We pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Enjoy the feast of life; share your food and faith!
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
