Gen 29:22 | KingComments | STEP | After Jacob has served for seven years, he asks for the wife for whom he has worked all this time. Laban makes it an official affair. He invites guests and prepares a meal. The wedding is a public affair ( ). That’s how it should be. Only then does Jacob go in to his bride. That is the right order. But Laban deceives Jacob. Instead of Rachel he brings Leah to Jacob. The next morning Jacob notices the deceit. Laban’s deception takes place in the darkness, just as Jacob deceived his father in the darkness of the tent ( ). Here we see Jacob reaping on his way what he sowed ( ). Jacob also took the birthright from Esau with tricks. Here he is deceived in connection with the firstborn Leah. Laban’s defense regarding what is customary in Haran is insincere. If it were so, he would have had to make Jacob familiar with it before. Laban is also prepared to use both his daughters in the pursuit of his own interests. He takes no account at all of the fact that he also incites a violation of God’s decree that a man may have only one wife. Jacob does not take this into account either. He goes to work for a second wife. The resulting misery in his family is clearly evident from the description of his future life. The transgression of God’s statutes always brings misery. The fact that God uses all this to carry out His plan proves that His plan is based on grace and therefore is fulfilled.

‏ Genesis 29:22

Jacob Is Deceived

After Jacob has served for seven years, he asks for the wife for whom he has worked all this time. Laban makes it an official affair. He invites guests and prepares a meal. The wedding is a public affair (Gen 29:22). That’s how it should be. Only then does Jacob go in to his bride. That is the right order.

But Laban deceives Jacob. Instead of Rachel he brings Leah to Jacob. The next morning Jacob notices the deceit. Laban’s deception takes place in the darkness, just as Jacob deceived his father in the darkness of the tent (Gen 27:19-24). Here we see Jacob reaping on his way what he sowed (Gal 6:7b). Jacob also took the birthright from Esau with tricks. Here he is deceived in connection with the firstborn Leah.

Laban’s defense regarding what is customary in Haran is insincere. If it were so, he would have had to make Jacob familiar with it before. Laban is also prepared to use both his daughters in the pursuit of his own interests. He takes no account at all of the fact that he also incites a violation of God’s decree that a man may have only one wife.

Jacob does not take this into account either. He goes to work for a second wife. The resulting misery in his family is clearly evident from the description of his future life. The transgression of God’s statutes always brings misery. The fact that God uses all this to carry out His plan proves that His plan is based on grace and therefore is fulfilled.