Sunday, January 3, 2016 Lesson Text: Genesis 29:15-30 King James Version (KJV) I. THE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN JACOB AND LABAN MADE (Genesis 29:15-20) 15. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16. And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. II. THE ARRANGEMENT VIOLATED (Genesis 29:21-26) 21. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid
for an handmaid. 25. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26. And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. III. THE ARRANGEMENT REVISED (Genesis 29:27-30) 27. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. New International Version (NIV) I. THE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN JACOB AND LABAN MADE (Genesis 29:15-20) 15. Laban said to him, Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.
16. Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, I ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel. 19. Laban said, It s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me. 20. So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. II. THE ARRANGEMENT VIOLATED (Genesis 29:21-26) 21. Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her. 22. So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24. And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant. 25. When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn t I? Why have you deceived me? 26. Laban replied, It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.
III. THE ARRANGEMENT REVISED (Genesis 29:27-30) 27. Finish this daughter s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work. 28. And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29. Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. 30. Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. PRACTICAL POINTS: 1. Christian parents have a responsibility to teach their children properly concerning marriage and the choosing of a suitable mate (Genesis 29:15-17). 2. Marriages that succeed must have love as their highest priority (Genesis 29:18; I Corinthians 13:1-8). 3. Serving God and other people is not burdensome if love is our motive for serving (Genesis 29:19-20; I Corinthians 13:1-3). 4. When we deceive others, we can be sure that eventually
we will reap what we sow (Genesis 29:21-25). 5. Let us not become weary in our labor, for in due time we will reap an abundant spiritual harvest (Genesis 29:26-29; Galatians 6:9). 6. The man or woman of God must keep his or her word even when others don t (Genesis 29:30; Romans 12:17). ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***