Genesis 29:15–30 15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than to give her to another man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.” 22 Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. 24 Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid.

25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 But Laban said, “It is not the practice in our place to marry off the younger before the firstborn. 27 “Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

29 Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.

Not an endorsement of polygamy The first polygamist, Lamech, calls a family conference so he can boast about

his inordinate vengeful violence. He’s clearly not a nice man (Gen 4:19-24).Jacob has two wives and two concubines, a situation which creates family

heartbreak, envy and, ultimately, attempted murder (Gen 29-37).Gideon has many wives and many sons (Judges 8:30). This results in civil war

and wholesale slaughter in Israel (Judges 9).David has a seemingly insatiable appetite for women. He has many wives (

2 Sam 5:13), and in the end steals another man’s wife and murders him (2 Sam 11-12). The resulting, big family was not a happy one: they ended up committing incestuous rape (2 Sam 13) and rebellion which almost destroyed David’s kingdom (2 Sam 14ff).

Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. They led his heart away from the Lord, and led to the break-up of his kingdom (1 Kings 11:3-4).

1. Lamech first polygamist

2. Jacob has two wives and two concubines

3. Gideon has many wives and many sons

4. David had many wives

5. Solomon had over 1,000 wives

Not an endorsement of polygamy

The Bible begins with an explicit affirmation that marriage is between one man and one woman (Gen 1-2), an affirmation which is later confirmed by Jesus himself (Matt 19:4-6). There are, furthermore, laws limiting some of the worst effects of polygamy (Deut 21:15-17). And then, in the New Testament, Paul’s command to Timothy that church leaders must be, alongside exemplars of other moral virtues, “the husband of one wife” (1 Tim 3:2, 12; cf. 1 Tim 5:9) implies that polygamy is not a desirable thing.

One man one woman

Jesus reaffirmed

Paul instructed Timothy concerning Church leaders

Spilled his guts

So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things.

Genesis 29:13

Getting caught up

Family affairsBirthrightBlessingsDream

People will treat you according to their estimation of you and your character.

Laban

Laban “White”, Son of Bethuel and brother of Rebekah.

Received Eliezer the servant of AbrahamReceived Jacob into his houseTakes advantage of JacobChanges agreementsCheats & stealsOver steps authority

Hires a new hand

“Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

Jacob’s choice

Leah OlderWeary Weak eyes-bashful

RachelYounger Ewe lambBeautiful-Good figure

pretty faceLoved

Seven year itch

“I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Labor of love

Wedding party

1. Festival-mistel meaning to drink

2. Father presents the bride

3. Gives a dowry4. Consummation5. Wedding week

Deception discovered

So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?”

New bargain

• We have a tradition• Complete the

ceremony• Give you this one• Work seven more

years

A deal is a deal

Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.

Actions have consequences

Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

1 Timothy 5:25

He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9

Straight deal

For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,…then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

Jeremiah 7:5;6

Golden Rule is for business

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

Be honorable in all things

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

Hebrews 13:18

Actions speak louder than words

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:12