What parts of your life would you have eliminated if you were writing the story? What would you have missed by making your life less tramatic?

May Your Life Be Interesting 

(Genesis 29:1-30, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, April 19, 2015) 

[29:1] Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. [2] As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large, [3] and 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. [4] Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” [5] He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” [6] He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” [7] 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.” [8] 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.” [9] While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. [10] 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. [11] Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. [12] 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. [13] 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, [14] and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month. In the previous verses, Jacob had sought the blessing of God. He had been sent by Isaac to find his extended family. God brought him to the right place to do just that. At this first meeting, a very bold Jacob met the woman of his dreams who would eventually be the mother of two of his children, including Joseph, his favorite. 

[15] Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” [16] Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. [17] Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. [18] Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” [19] Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” [20] So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. [21] Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” [22] So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. [23] But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. [24] (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) [25] And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! 

God had more in mind for the man who would be the father of the chosen people than just Jacob identifying his own idea of the perfect bride. God had His own marriage plans for His Son. He had His purposes which would eventually involve all the nations. And He is free to use a father like Laban to bring them about. Before Jacob would ever have Rachel as his wife, he would have a different woman, her sister, Leah, who would end up being the mother of Judah, Messiah's tribe. 

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?” [26] Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. [27] Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” [28] Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. [29] (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) [30] So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years. 

Jacob would also marry Rachel, but that story would take fourteen years to unfold from the time that Jacob first met Rachel. In order to provide the world with the people group of the Messiah, God would use a father's deception, supposed marital customs that were not all that rational, polygamy that was plainly against the Lord's highest moral plan (see Matthew 19), and plenty of delay and toil. 

 Put the Word to Work: Jesus and the new world of the resurrection kingdom would come to us through much that might at best seem questionable or unnecessary. We are not God. He rules. He knows. Meanwhile, He really does use us and our pleas for help, despite all of our mess. Don't give up. Remain faithful through all the noise around us and all the tears and unanswered questions. 

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 130:2 

O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 

Gospel Reading—Matthew 21:1-11 – The triumphal entry