Daddy's Little Girl - Part 6

Daddy’s Little Girl-Part 6

Praise the Lord, everybody.  We will continue with this series on Daddy’s Little Girl.  Please turn with me to Genesis 29.

Genesis 29

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. And Jacob said unto them, my brethren, whence be ye? And they said, of Haran are we. And he said unto them, know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, we know him. And he said unto them, is he well? And they said, he is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. And he said, lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, we cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? Tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, it is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.  And Jacob said unto Laban, give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.  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. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for a handmaid. 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? And Laban said, it must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

In this familiar passage of scripture we see Jacob, the trickster, who was on the run from his angry twin brother, Esau in search of a wife from his people.  He is on the road to meet his uncle, Laban, the brother of Rebekah, who caused all of this foolishness, when he encounters the beautiful Rachel.  He immediately falls in love with her after helping her with her flock of sheep.

Jacob decides to stay for a while, and helps Laban around the land.  He asks Jacob to name his price for wages, and he enthusiastically asks for Rachel’s hand in marriage.  There’s one catch, though, which we find out later on.  Rachel has an older sister, Leah, and after serving seven years in order to finally get married to his dream girl, Laban holds a wedding feast, and all the people celebrate.

When Jacob was feeling nice, he stumbles into the wedding tent and passes out.  Laban sends in Leah, the girl whose vision isn’t all that great, and a plain Jane in comparison to her sister, and she spends the night.  Imagine Jacob’s surprise when he awakens, sobering up, and sees her instead of the woman he served all those years of.

He was furious, and confronted his uncle to ask what kind of shenanigans is this!  Laban gives a weak excuse that wouldn’t stand in court today, but was a tradition of the people back then.  Leah is the older sister, and she had to be married before her younger sister.  Laban asks Jacob to finish out the honeymoon with Leah, and by the end of the week, he could have Rachel in exchange for seven more years.

Because of his love for Rachel, he did it, but then the competition between the two sisters was on.  Sounds familiar, huh?  His mother just put him and his twin brother through a competition for their father’s honored blessing, and Esau was cheated out of it, as the firstborn.

So the Lord intervened on Leah’s behalf, because the bible says that she was hated.  Let me put in a sidebar right here, because I want to tell you something.  Brothers need to know that all women are beautiful in their own way, and you shouldn’t be swayed by a big butt and a smile.  Like the Temptations said, “…beauty’s only skin deep.”

Ladies, you need to hear me as well.  Just because you may or may not be on model status doesn’t mean that the Lord doesn’t see you as valuable to Him.  He’s looking at your character, your heart and your spirit.  Oftentimes, the most beautiful girl in the world doesn’t look like Cardi B and Beyoncé.  Take a look at the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 for a model.

Back to the story; God opens up Leah’s womb, and closes Rachel’s to prove a point.  The unloved spouse was able to conceive and give birth to four of the sons who would be included in the twelve tribes of Israel.  These boys were important, but what I want to point out is that by Leah becoming pregnant, she thought that her love for Jacob would be proven, and that it would be reciprocated by him.  Unfortunately, that was the furthest from the truth.  After the birth of her fourth child, she basically gives up and says, “…now I will praise the Lord.”

Sisters, no matter how much you may feel unloved and unwanted, you will never be fulfilled in your heart by the love and affection of a man until you are touched by the Man, Jesus Christ.  He will fill the empty spaces of your life, as He woos you to an intimate and personal relationship with Him.  Falling in love with Jesus is the best thing that you will ever do in this life.

The Lord is the only one who can truly love you the way you want and need to be loved.  He holds your secrets, collects your tears and never leaves your side.  He is a true friend indeed.  This isn’t to discount the saints or special people in your life, but He can’t disappoint you like people can and will do.

May the Lord bless you, and we’ll see you tomorrow, God willing.