Genesis 29: What Did Jacob Endure for Love?

Genesis 29 tells us that Jacob served seven years for Rachel because he loved her, continued his appointed work even after being deceived by Laban, and that the LORD saw Leah’s distress. This account is recorded in Genesis 29. So what did Jacob endure such a long time for, and what happened to Leah in the process?

Jacob Promised Seven Years for Rachel

Jacob came to the land of the people of the east and saw a well. There he saw Rachel, Laban’s daughter, coming with her father’s sheep. Jacob met Rachel and told her that he was Rebekah’s son and Laban’s nephew.

Laban welcomed Jacob into his house. After Jacob stayed with Laban for a month, Laban asked what his wages should be. Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Because Jacob loved Rachel, he said that he would serve seven years for Rachel.

Jacob actually served Laban for seven years. The passage records that because he loved Rachel, those seven years seemed to him like only a few days. This does not mean that Jacob regarded the time lightly, but that he endured the appointed period to gain Rachel because of his love.

On the Appointed Day, Laban Deceived Jacob

When the time was fulfilled, Jacob asked Laban to give him his wife. Laban gathered the people of the place and held a feast. But in the evening, he brought Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel.

Jacob realized only in the morning that it was Leah. He asked Laban why he had deceived him. He challenged him by saying that he had served for Rachel.

Laban said that it was not done in that region to give the younger daughter before the firstborn. He then said that if Jacob completed Leah’s seven-day marriage feast, he would also give him Rachel. In return, Jacob would have to serve another seven years for Rachel.

Jacob fulfilled those seven days as Laban had required. Laban then gave Rachel to Jacob as well. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served Laban another seven years for Rachel.

The LORD Saw Leah’s Distress

The passage does not record only Jacob’s love. It also records that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. It then says that the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, opened her womb, but Rachel had no children.

Leah gave birth to a son and named him Reuben. She said that the LORD had looked on her affliction. Her second son was named Simeon. Leah said that the LORD had heard that she was unloved.

Leah named her third son Levi. She said that now that she had borne three sons, her husband would be joined to her. Her fourth son was named Judah. Leah said that now she would praise the LORD. After this record, the passage adds that Leah stopped bearing children.

Genesis 29 does not show only one person’s love and long service. In the same household, Rachel was loved, while Leah considered herself unloved. Yet the passage tells us that the LORD saw Leah’s distress and heard her words. What we can confirm here is that the LORD saw Leah’s situation.

Today, Listen to One Person Until the End

What you will do today is listen to one close person without interrupting until the end. Leah spoke of her distress and her longing as she named her sons. Along with those words, the passage records that the LORD saw Leah’s distress.

Instead of speaking a solution first or comparing the person with someone else, listen to exactly what that person says. Even once today, after you have heard the other person out, you can reply, “You must have been in a great deal of pain then.” This is a small act that Genesis 29 shows us for not overlooking a person’s pain. You can continue reading today’s passage in Today’s Word.

Textual Basis

• Genesis 29:1-14
• Genesis 29:15-20
• Genesis 29:21-30
• Genesis 29:31-35