“Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” Genesis 29:18 (NKJV)
The phrase “love is blind” originated in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Merchant’s Tale around 1405. The line appears as “For loue is blynd alday and may nat see” Although many years have come and gone since 1405 I see examples of the truism every day. It seems that Jacob’s love for Rachel may have been based upon outward appearances because the Bible says she was beautiful in appearance. It says nothing about her character at this time.
Jacob was so besotted with her that he was willing to serve Laban for 7 years as the dowry payment for his bride. Remember that at this time Jacob had no earthly wealth. He left Isaac and Rebekah in disgrace for having lied to his father. Scripture doesn’t indicate that he took anything of wealth with him when he left. His labor was all he had to offer as payment for Rachel. He willingly chose to work the 7 years for this beautiful woman.
Even as Jacob had lied to his father, Laban lied to Jacob. When the 7 years were up, Laban held a feast and Leah was brought to Jacob to complete the marriage arrangement. What is strange is that Jacob didn’t know it was Leah and not Rachel until the next morning. Wonder if wine had been served at the feast to cloud Jacob’s senses? How could he not have known who he got into bed with? Maybe love is truly blind!
Laban agreed to let Jacob have Rachel for another 7 years labor IF Jacob would stay with Leah for the rest of the week. The marriage would be a real marriage with children from Leah. At the end of the week, Laban gave Rachel to Jacob and Jacob agreed to work for Laban for another 7 years as dowry payment for his second wife.
Jacob the deceiver was deceived. A fitting punishment? How would Leah and Rachel feel knowing the trickery that had happened to make their marriages to Jacob sealed? I can see seeds of jealousy planted in both women’s hearts.
Listen to Maranatha Music as they sing “Change My Heart Oh God.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 1/13/24, 5:00 pm