#80 Betrayed Genesis 29

Then Laban said to Jacob, "because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?" Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter." And Laban said, "it is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me." So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, "give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go to her." And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, "what have you done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?" And Laban said, "it must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years." Genesis 29: 15-26 NKJV

Jacob has found acceptance with his uncle, and since he is a relative, Laban offers him wages for his  services. Jacob seizes the opportunity to ask for Rachel's hand in exchange for seven years of service. Laban agrees.

It is said that Laban has two daughters, and that Leah's eyes were delicate. In some translations I have seen the word pale exchanged for the word delicate. This is followed by a phrase that would appear to contrast the two daughters, Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. I don't think the description of delicate eyes was a compliment, but rather indicative of a less desirable trait. What happens to her next is far worse to me than the deceiver being deceived. 

After 7 years of service for the hand of Rachel, Laban changes the price of the dowry. He exchanges his eldest daughter for Rachel, and Jacob seals the marriage with Leah. Laban gives the excuse that it is not customary for the younger to marry before the elder. Does custom and tradition give license to deceit? Does our heritage excuse our poor morals or will it justify us in our prejudices? It will not hold up before a righteous judge, and I believe it played little into Laban's true motives. He has prospered from the service of Jacob, and been blessed because of him. Laban wants seven more years, and apparently it is also acceptable to gain this at the cost of his daughter's dignity. She wakes beside a man that for seven years had looked forward to this moment with another. Laban banked on Jacob's love of Rachel and left Leah in the cold.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18 NKJV

Even the best of men can by nature only love imperfectly. Many people claim to worship no gods and therefore claim no religion. Beauty is a deceptive thing in this matter, not because it is wrong to appreciate that which is beautiful, but because in a fallen state men become blinded by it to all else. For the sake of the body, men do not see the beauty of the soul. I am not saying that Jacob was wrong for feeling betrayed, or even for finding Rachel more physically appealing. What I am trying to say is that love is not bound by appearance, and if the value of a person is based upon physical traits, then the form has become an idol. You will religiously chase this god and it will define your philosophies and your morals. Your judgment will be molded by your lust; you will lift up your desire and cast down the value of all else. It is easy for us, in light of all scripture, to look back and say Leah was wronged, as she was. What is difficult is for us to look around now, in light of all scripture, and tear down those idols that we have even named, Love. 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her. Ephesians 5:23 NKJV

I realize there are some jumps here, but in the end Laban was wrong to both Jacob and his daughter. Jacob was betrayed but later Christ will show us a better way. Who are we to withhold love, deeming some unworthy. We are all unworthy.