Day 22

Jacob’s Marriage

Genesis 29:1–30:24

Jacob traveled to the city of Haran. There he found the same well where Eliezer met his mother, Rebekah. A young woman herded her sheep to the well for water. This was Rachel, the daughter of Jacob’s uncle Laban. Jacob was so happy to meet her that he wept. And he fell in love with Rachel there.

Laban welcomed Jacob into his house. Soon Jacob told Laban, “I’ll work seven years to marry Rachel.”

Laban replied, “Better that Rachel marry you than a stranger.”

Seven years passed. It seemed like only days to Jacob because he loved Rachel so. The day of the wedding came. The bride wore a thick veil. But when Jacob lifted the veil, it wasn’t Rachel. Jacob had married Leah, Rachel’s older sister. Jacob didn’t love her. He’d been cheated because Laban wanted the older sister married first.

Then Jacob worked seven more years for Laban. Finally, he married Rachel. In those times men often had two wives.

Jacob lived with Laban twenty-one years. He had eleven sons there. Only one named Joseph was Rachel’s son. Jacob loved him best.

Questions: Why did Jacob work seven years for Laban? How did Laban cheat Jacob?