Jacob's Family (Genesis 29:1-30:24)
The story of Jacob is one of an imperfect and broken man being used by God to accomplish his plans. God has promised Jacob that He would be with him, and that the promises made to Abraham would be fulfilled through Jacob. None of that makes Jacob become a saint. And, none of that shields Jacob from the consequences of the deceit and underhanded ways that he had tried to get ahead in life. In fact, as Jacob arrives in Haran and finds his relatives, parallel after parallel highlight Jacob’s shortcomings.
There are echoes of the story of Abraham’s servant as Jacob arrives at the well, but with key differences. Whereas Rebekah watered the servant’s animals, Jacob helps Rachel. Laban runs out to meet the arrival again, and this time he succeeds in getting the visitor to stay with him. Other hints at previous events follow. Just as Jacob tricked Esau and his father, Laban tricks and cheats Jacob.
As Jacob marries and starts to have children, we see that his family life is no better than the one he had left. In fact, it is worse. The wives are conniving and spiteful. Rachel and Leah act out a transaction that reminds us of Esau selling his birthright for a meal. Wenham, in his commentary highlights how these shortcomings play into God’s plan:
Jacob is a powerful reminder that we do not earn God’s favor or steer his plans. God will accomplish His objectives through us, in spite of us if need be. However, Jacob is also a reminder that life tends to be more pleasant when we are working with God and following His plans rather than our own shortsighted ways.
There are echoes of the story of Abraham’s servant as Jacob arrives at the well, but with key differences. Whereas Rebekah watered the servant’s animals, Jacob helps Rachel. Laban runs out to meet the arrival again, and this time he succeeds in getting the visitor to stay with him. Other hints at previous events follow. Just as Jacob tricked Esau and his father, Laban tricks and cheats Jacob.
As Jacob marries and starts to have children, we see that his family life is no better than the one he had left. In fact, it is worse. The wives are conniving and spiteful. Rachel and Leah act out a transaction that reminds us of Esau selling his birthright for a meal. Wenham, in his commentary highlights how these shortcomings play into God’s plan:
“It is into this most bitterly divided family that the forefathers of the twelve tribes are born. Fathered by a lying trickster and mothered by sharp-tongued shrews, the patriarchs grew up to be less than perfect themselves. Yet through them the promises to Abraham took a great step forward toward their fulfillment showing that it is divine grace not human merit that gives mankind hope of salvation.” -Gordon J. Wenham, Word Biblical Commentary Genesis 16-50
Jacob is a powerful reminder that we do not earn God’s favor or steer his plans. God will accomplish His objectives through us, in spite of us if need be. However, Jacob is also a reminder that life tends to be more pleasant when we are working with God and following His plans rather than our own shortsighted ways.
Comments
Post a Comment