Genesis 29:12

Genesis 29:12 says, 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.  Jacob identified himself as Isaac and Rebekah's son.  He wasn't just some random stranger.  She ran to share the news.  Verse thirteen states, 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.  Laban was just as excited to meet Jacob, so he ran to meet him and brought him home with him.  We today may never be as out of touch with relatives as people were in that day, unless it is by choice, but we are still usually excited to see relatives that we haven't seen in a while.  Verse fourteen adds, And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.  Laban recognized Jacob as a blood relative, and Jacob stayed with him for a month.  Of course, as followers of Christ, we have blood relatives, but we also have spiritual relatives, and hopefully many are both.  Verse fifteen declares, And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?  Whether Jacob had already been working during this month he had been there or not, Laban said he didn't expect him to work for free.  We should never expect our relatives, or our fellow Christians, to work for us for nothing.  This was more than just a few days work and was going to continue for awhile.  Laban asked Jacob to name his price.  Verse sixteen adds, And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  We already knew about Rachel, but Laban had an older daughter named Leah.  Verse seventeen continues, Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.  We are told more about Leah's character and about Rachel's looks.  Evidently Rachel was prettier than Leah.  We still often judge women more by their looks than by their nature or character.  Verse eighteen states, And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.  Jacob loved Rachel, whether because he had gotten to know her during the month he had been there or simply because he found her beautiful.  Jacob told Laban that he would work for him for seven years in order to have the right to marry Rachel.  I am not sure how many people today would be willing to work seven years in order to marry someone.  Verse nineteen says, And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.  Laban said that it was better that he allow Jacob to marry Rachel than for her to marry someone else.  We are not told how God's leadership was taken into consideration in this deal, nor are we told how Rachel felt about it.  When we as followers of Christ make plans, we must consider what God wants us to do, and also how our plans will affect others, especially if they are part of the plan.  Verse twenty declares, And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.  Jacob's love for Rachel was so strong that seven years only felt like a few days.  If we really love someone, then no matter how much we do for them it should always seem but a small thing to us.  Verse twenty-one adds, And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.  Jacob had fulfilled his part of the deal, and now he was ready to marry Rachel.  If we make an agreement with someone as Christians, then we should always do our best to fulfill that agreement.  Verse twenty-two states, And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.  Laban gathered everyone together and made a feast, supposedly to carry out his part of the agreement.  Verse twenty-three adds, 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.  Laban did not carry out his part of the agreement, sending Leah instead of Rachel to Jacob.  I believe that Leah is often the forgotten woman in this story.  She knew that Jacob loved Rachel, but she still had to do what her father told her to do.  We always need to consider how our actions will affect others, especially other followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-four adds, And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.  Laban gave Leah one of his maids as her handmade.