Laban: The Cheater Cheats The Cheater
Genesis 29:15-30
“So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel…” vs. 20
Bus Accident
Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead (July 12, 1872 – Sept. 30, 1930), best known as F. E. Smith, was a British Conservative statesman and lawyer of the early 20th century. He was a skilled orator, noted for his staunch opposition to Irish nationalism, his wit, pugnacious views, and hard living and drinking. He is perhaps best remembered as Winston Churchill‘s greatest personal and political friend until Birkenhead’s death at age 58 from pneumonia caused by cirrhosis of the liver.
F. E. Smith was a capable lawyer with a quick wit who served as the British attorney general from 1915 until 1919. On one occasion he cross-examined a young man claiming damages for an arm injury caused by the negligence of a bus driver. He questions the young man and asks,“Will you please show us how high you can lift your arm now?” asked Smith. The young man gingerly raised his arm to shoulder level, his face distorted with pain. “Thank you,” said Smith. “And now, could you show us how high you could lift it before the accident?” The young man eagerly shot his arm up above his head. He lost the case. The young man lost the case. Today in the Word, July 1995, p. 27
One thing that seems somewhat satisfying to most of us is when we see someone who lives a shady life get what is coming to them. Take the example of this young man.
Read Passage – Genesis 29:15-30
After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.” 22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant. 25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” 26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” 28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. 30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
What Goes Around
There is some background to this story that is important for us to remember as we begin. Jacob has not lived a life that is on the up and up and he is meeting his match.
Here is Jacobs life of cheating
1. At birth it looks like he is going to be the oldest and his arm comes out and they tie a string around his wrist to mark that he is the oldest but then his arm goes back into his mom and Esau is actually born first. Interestingly enough, he ends up grabbing Esau’s heel. We don’t really know exactly what this means but it sure seems like a sign of things to come.
2. Esau is out hunting, catches nothing, and comes home to find Jacob cooking and he is famished. So Jacob lures him to eat but only if he gives him his birthright. He wants the oldest priviledges.
3. As their father is dying he wants to bless Esau so he asks him to go catch him some food, cook it, and feed it to him but Jacob’s mom hears about it and helps Jacob cook some food, dress, smell and act like his brother, feed his father and swindle Esau out of his blessing.
Jacob has lived a life of deception and now what goes around comes around, he has met his match with Laban and is getting his just desserts. But Jacob has a situation arise, he has happen to him what happens to a lot of guys, he is love struck. He has fallen in love with a beautiful girl.
Help! I Married The Wrong Sister!
So Jacob strikes a deal with Laban. The Marital Agreement
Payment – commonly 30 to 40 sheckels. A shepherd typically made 10 shekels a year. Jacob agrees to 7 yrs of work, a premium price for his wife.
7 yrs later Leah is still not married. The bride is veil in public ceremonies, Jacob doesn’t really see her until the morning, after they have slept together. The marriage is a binding thing and sleeping together makes it a solid commitment.
Leah – Name means “cow”
Weak eyes – eyes a component of beauty. Footnote: delicate,
“Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.” vs. 17
Rachel – Name means “ewe”
Strong, beautiful, confident, stocky
Many people focus on Jacob, today we are going to focus on Laban. Laban is a a pretty shrewd business man amd pretty smart too. In his day daughters were a commodity, a possession, and a money maker when it comes to getting married
Get this: Laban figured out a way to get rid of his “cow” and it is thru his “ewe”.
The Golden Rule
Laban was familiar with the whole idea of loving God but he never got to hear Jesus words that guide us through life. Laban had heard the Deut. part but that was it. When Christ is asked about it he responds by letting us know that there are 2 really important thing is life, Matt. 22:
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matt. 22:37-39
Jesus tells us the 2 most important things are growing in our relationship with God and making Him first and foremost in all our decisions and the second is how we treat others. This is why we place so much importance on “The Golden Rule” which are Christ’s words from Luke 6:
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31
God wants us to treat and love others in a way that honors him. And sometimes we have great examples of that and other times we have great examples of what not to do. Today, we are going to discover from Laban, what not to do.
Laban the Deceiver or Dealing With Difficult People
As we learn from Laban the Deceiver let me remind you that we all deal with difficult people. Part of life is dealing with people that can be abrasive and hurtful and deceitful. The great thing about the Bible is that God also helps us by giving us the antidote.
Antidote – a remedy to counteract the effects of poison (Dictionary) Isn’t that a great definition? So let’s look at how Laban the Deceiver dealt with people and what God’s antidote is. It is important to remember that many times our actions speak louder than our words.
-Uses Flattery and Manipulates
First, Laban, and difficult people, use flattery and manipulate others. Verse 19:
Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” vs. 19
This seems like an innocent verse but let’s dig a bit deeper. Laban thought this thing out, He not only tricked Jacob but many others as well. He had this whole ruse about Jacob marrying Rachel and he had to pull it off in convincing fashion. He planned the wedding, the guests, the whole things was set up to look like one thing when he knew all along what he was going to do. He reaaly didn’t care what it looked like to everyone, he had a plan and he was going to make this thing work and get something out of it too. This was extremely well thought out and carried out with the greatest precision. He sets up Jacob knowing full well what he wanted but what he was going to do. He used others. Flattery and manipulation were the means of getting what he wanted.
Antidote: Truth
The antidote that God has for us is truth. Pauyl in Ephesians 4 says
“Instead, speaking the truth in love…” Eph. 4:15
Laban could have told him their customs ahead of time, he could have told him what needed to happen before he could marry Rachel. But he uses him. Our call is to speak the truth and sometimes that can be really hard. Our truth should be tempered with love.
-Breaks Their Promise
Second, Laban, and difficult people break their promises. Verse 23:
“But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.” vs. 23
He should never have made this agreement with Jacob, but he did. His oaths were only a means to his end. Also, notice, Leah went along with this. She had not voice and would not go against her father. Who knows, Laban might have thought that somehow within the 7 years Leah would surely find a husband, Someone would come along. But that doesn’t happen and Laban carries out his plan.
Antidote: Keep Your Word
The antidote that God has for us here is to keep our word. James 5:12 says:
“Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.” James 5:12
It’s is important for people to be able to trust us and count on us. There should not be wishy–washy (that’s a technical Biblical term J) –ness about us. People whoudl be able to count on us when we commit to something.
-Justifies Their Deceit
Third, Laban, and difficult people make excuses and justify their deceit. Verse 26:
“Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.” vs. 26
We live in a world and in a time when excuses are par for the course. When we have our thoughts and motives on what is only good for us and when we feel a sense of entitlement about things, we justify our bad actions and make excuses instead of owning up to the situation.
Antidote: Walking Humbly With God
The antidote from God is to trust him and walk humbly with Him. We all make mistakes, We all fall short but how we handle our shortcomings and dela with them has a lot to do with people seeing God in our actions
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
As I said, we all make mistakes but the integrity of a person and the character of a follower of God is the willingness to submit to his plan, admit our mistakes and walk in humility with God. Most of us struggle because we have our own plan, our own agenda, and we feel entitled. God says trust me, wlak humbly with me and draw close to me.
Relying On God
Let me end today by synopsizing the rest of the story. You might feel sorry for Leah, even think this poor woman named cow lived a crazy maybe even miserable life and was long forgotten.
But God renames Jacob Israel and his 12 children become the 12 tribes of Israel.. His first wife Leah, had his first 4 children; Rueben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. She later had 2 more; Issachar and Zebulun. Leah is the matriarch of 6 of the tribes of Israel. Also, her 4 son, Judah, it was through him that the line of David came and the eventually in that same line: Jesus Christ. She has an eternal honor that will be forever. Pretty cool. God used her in ways no one coul have ever imagined. Wow!
