Mon.’s Devo - Working for 7 years, again.

Read Gen. 29:12-29

After Jacob bedazzled Rachael with his stone rolling, his servanthood, and his kiss, he told her who he was.  (Some charmer!)  He was a perfect match for her.  Even Laban realized the good fate in finding a man from his own family.  Jacob stayed with Laban and served him.  After a month, Laban asked him what he wanted his wages to be.  He asked for Rachael’s hand in marriage.  Laban told him to work for 7 years and she would be his for free.  Laban also had an older daughter, Leah.  Surely, seven years would be enough time for her to get married since their custom was to marry off the oldest first.  Jacob must have thought that working for Rachael for 7 years was a good bride price and agreed.  He loved Rachael so much that the years flew by.  When they were over, he went to get his prize.  Laban threw a big feast with plenty of wine.  Late that night Laban brought Rachael to Jacob for his honeymoon night.  Jacob made love to Rachael that night, only to find out in the morning that it was Leah!  (How that happened is a mystery to me.  I guess without electric lights, who can see?!?)  Poor Leah! Poor Rachael!  Poor Jacob!  It was a lose- lose situation.  Needless to say, Jacob was irate and went to Laban to find out why he deceived him.  Laban told him that the custom was to marry the first born first, so his solution was to stay married to Leah, then marry Rachael.  He could work another 7 years for her (again).  So in the span of one week, Jacob got married twice and gained 2 handmaidens.   I can’t imagine the adjustment he went though from 0 to 4 women in the house!  

What amazes me about Jacob is his ability to adapt when things don’t turn out as he plans.  He seems to have the gift of long-suffering and patience.  

Lord, help me to have a good attitude when I don’t get what I want, when I want it.  Remind me of Jacob.