Genesis 29:15-30 NKJV
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should 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 delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.
18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 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. 24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”
26 And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”
28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29 And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.
When the sinful flesh of man selfishly sets his mind on getting something—oftentimes coveting something so much that they will not give up, or go to any lengths, until they obtain it—the Lord can allow it to take place. There’s a saying that can be applied to such allowances of God: “Don’t mistake God’s providence as permission.” The Lord allows things to take place knowing He is going to use the situation ultimately for His good purpose and also as a teaching opportunity.
Desiring people can be found pleading, “Come on. Lord, I really need this or that thing! Pleeeease, let me I have it.” First of all, it’s usually a want, not a need. And second, it’s usually tainted with vanity (a vain attraction that drives the desire to possess it). At the very least, though, it’s idolatry. Jacob, clearly, had a vain attraction to Rachel’s beauty.
Vain-focused desire (or, better called, covetousness) brings about a vulnerability in which a person can then be swindled. This is displayed in the deceit and craftiness of Laban. As the Lord allows this scenario to play out, look at what such covetousness can lead to—Jacob “loved Rachel more than Leah.” Well, that’s not going to lead to any bad issues, right?
Of course, beauty of the body is not to be despised, but the inward beauty of the heart surpasses all. As you will read in tomorrow’s continuation of this event in history, the Lord uses Jacob’s selfish covetousness for His own good purposes—specifically, it’s for the greatest ‘good’ of all time, for He is continuing the human lineage that will bring about the promised Messiah—and promised seed to Abraham—Christ Jesus!
Let us pray: O Lord, we pray that Your grace may always go before and follow after us, that we may continually be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.