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.
1.Laban’s HOAX
Laban’s Trickery
Genesis 29:24
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.
Genesis 29:25
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?
Laban’s Tale
Genesis 29:30
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
Leah’s HURT
The SPOUSE she Married
Genesis 29:30
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
The SILENCE she Retained (she never said a word)
The SCORN she Endured
Genesis 29:31
… the Lord saw that Leah was hated…
Leah’s HOPE
Genesis 29:31
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Leah’s Dynamic Hope
(1) Hope Revived (Reuben) (Jehovah) v32 Hoping for love
(2) Hope Rewarded (Simeon) (Jehovah) v33 Hoping for sympathy
(3) Hope Rationalized (Levi) v34 Hoping for Chemistry
(4) Hope Rekindled (Judah) (Jehovah) v35 Hoping against Hope
Rachel’s Defiant Hope
Genesis 30:1
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
Genesis 30:2
2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
Genesis 30:3-6
And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
Genesis 30:7-9
7 And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
Leah’s Desperate Hope
Genesis 30:9-10
9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. 10 And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
Leah’s Different Hope
Genesis 30:13
13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
Lessons from This Sad Story
- What Goes around Comes around
- The Dangers of Alcohol
- The Delusion of Sex for Love
- The Discontent Self-Serving Brings
- The Blessings God gives us are by his GRACE