Translation: ESV
Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
An encounter with God gives new energy and direction to the steps of life.
▸Jacob continues his journey after leaving Bethel.
Jacob continues his journey after leaving Bethel. 'The land of the people of the east' refers to the Mesopotamian region. Jacob's long journey approaches its destination. After his encounter with God at Bethel, Jacob's steps take on new significance.
As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep were lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large.
God arranges the important encounters of our lives through what appear to be ordinary circumstances.
▸Jacob arrives at a place where there is a well with three flocks of sheep and their shepherds.
When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
Communal rules and cooperation are the foundation of a just society.
▸The method of using the well is explained.
Jacob said to them, 'My brothers, where do you come from?' They said, 'We are from Haran.'
God's guidance brings us to the right place at the right time.
▸Jacob asks the shepherds where they come from, and they reply they are from Haran.
He said to them, 'Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?' They said, 'We know him.'
God guides us precisely to the person we are seeking.
▸Jacob asks if they know Laban the son of Nahor, and they confirm they do.
He said to them, 'Is it well with him?' They said, 'It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!'
God's providence arranges crucial meetings with perfect timing.
▸Jacob asks whether Laban is well.
He said, 'Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.'
Love's encounter is sometimes accompanied by an active effort to create the right moment.
▸Jacob tells the shepherds it is still too early to gather the livestock and suggests they water the sheep and go.
But they said, 'We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.'
God's timing is accomplished according to his perfect schedule, not human impatience.
▸The shepherds decline Jacob's suggestion because of the communal rule: all the flocks must assemble before they can water.
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
God prepares important meetings in the midst of ordinary conversation and daily work.
▸While Jacob is still talking with the shepherds, Rachel arrives.
Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
True love empowers one to exert greater strength than usual for the sake of the beloved.
▸The moment Jacob sees Rachel, he single-handedly rolls the great stone from the mouth of the well.
Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
After a long journey and loneliness, the meeting God has prepared brings deep emotion.
▸Jacob kisses Rachel and weeps loudly.
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father.
Good news creates a natural eagerness to share it quickly.
▸Jacob introduces himself as Laban's kinsman and Rebekah's son.
As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things,
A welcome can contain both genuine warmth and self-interested calculation; God works his will through both.
▸Laban also 'ran' to meet Jacob with an enthusiastic welcome.
and Laban said to him, 'Surely you are my bone and my flesh!' And he stayed with him a month.
Family accepting family is a gift of community given by God.
▸Laban declares Jacob to be 'my bone and my flesh' — accepting him as true family.
Then Laban said to Jacob, 'Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?'
Behind proposals that appear fair, self-interest may be hidden; discernment is needed.
▸Laban proposes setting Jacob's wages.
Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
God's plan unfolds in directions we do not anticipate, making history through those very unexpected turns.
▸Laban's two daughters are introduced: Leah and Rachel.
Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
God evaluates people not by their appearance but by the role they play within his plan.
▸The two sisters' appearances are contrasted.
Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, 'I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.'
True love involves sacrifice; it willingly commits long years of dedicated service to the beloved.
▸Jacob offers to work seven years for Rachel.
Laban said, 'It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.'
Even self-interested agreement can be used within God's plan.
▸Laban accepts Jacob's proposal.
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
True love makes the time of sacrifice feel light.
▸'They seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her' is one of the most beautiful expressions of love in all of Scripture.
Then Jacob said to Laban, 'Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.'
Rightfully requesting the fulfillment of a promise is an act of faith.
▸After seven years Jacob asks Laban for Rachel.
So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.
Behind the facade of an official celebration, deception may be hiding.
▸Laban holds a wedding feast.
But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.
Those who deceive are ultimately deceived in return; the principle of 'you reap what you sow' repeats in history.
▸On the wedding night Laban brings Leah to Jacob.
( Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)
God works out his plan of the twelve tribes of Israel even through human scheming.
▸Laban gives Zilpah as a servant to Leah.
And in the morning, behold, 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?'
The deception one has practiced inevitably returns to oneself in some form.
▸In the morning Jacob discovers it is Leah.
Laban said, 'It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.'
Deception is always accompanied by rationalization; revealing truth only later is not honesty.
▸Laban justifies his deception by appealing to local custom: the younger daughter cannot be given in marriage before the elder.
'Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.'
The unrighteous pile one condition upon another, stacking deception on deception.
▸Laban offers to give Rachel after completing the bridal week, on condition of another seven years' service.
Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
God accomplishes his plan even through imperfect human situations.
▸Jacob agrees to Laban's terms and completes the bridal week.
(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)
God's work in history is accomplished through many lives; everyone has a place in God's plan.
▸Laban gives Bilhah to Rachel as a servant, following the same pattern as giving Zilpah to Leah.
So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
Favoritism becomes the seed of conflict within a family.
▸Jacob also marries Rachel and loves her more than Leah.
When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
God sees those who are marginalized and unloved by people, and he cares for them.
▸God sees Leah's condition and intervenes.
And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, 'Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.'
God sees the affliction of those who suffer and responds to it.
▸Leah gives birth to her firstborn, Reuben.
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 called his name Simeon.
God hears the prayers of those who suffer.
▸A second son is born — Simeon.
Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, 'Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore his name was called Levi.
God shapes persons of dedication and service through pain and loneliness.
▸A third son, Levi, is born.
And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, 'This time I will praise the LORD.' Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
The mark of mature faith is praising God unconditionally.
▸A fourth son, Judah, is born.