18/08/2017 - WHAT WILL BE YOUR WAGE?

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Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be? Genesis 29:15

Jacob should demonstrate his skills, helping Laban in everything. When Laban tried to know how much Jacob wanted to earn for his work for him, he must have been kidding when he said they were brothers.  Isaac’s son then agreed to work seven years for free as long as Laban allowed him to marry Rachel, his uncle’s daughter.

The agreement was made sworn and sealed.  During seven years, Laban had the best professional that had ever cared for his estate and properties.  Everything prospered in Jacob’s hands, because the divine anointment over him made the livestock reproduce more and grow.  Whoever is anointed by God is worth much wherever they are employed or work.  The Lord honors those who honor Him and so Laban grew richer with Jacob.  The time promised for Jacob to marry Rachel was meaningless to him.

When someone is in love, he sees no hardship in what needs to be spent or done to win the hand of his beloved in marriage.  When he felt that the person chosen was approved by God, the interested person will go to great lengths and put out all effort and sacrifice to have her at his side.  Seven years was considered little time compared to how much Jacob loved her.  Besides, the marriage conducted under the worldly passion of the flesh does not bring the same joy and satisfaction as that produced by love.  The young people must keep this in mind and seek the Lord’s direction in such important matters.  This is essential.

When Jacob fulfilled the allotted time Laban feigned to not remember, seeking a way to keep the young man at his side, so that in this manner, the blessings would continue to be over his herds and flocks as well as everything else that was produced by him.  Jacob had to pressure Laban asking to receive his spouse in marriage; after all, the time agreed upon, seven years had been served.  So in light of this what did Laban do?  He conceived a devilish plan to keep his future son-in-law more time with him.

Laban invited the men from that place and had a banquet.  It looked as if Jacob would receive Rachel as his wife.  Then when darkness fell, his uncle Laban took his other daughter Leah in a wedding gown with a veil covering her face.  According to tradition only the husband could unveil and see his wife’s face on the wedding night and bed.  The next morning, Jacob did not accept what he saw and furious he went to Laban, to demand satisfaction, who said it was not customary to give the younger daughter first in matrimony.

It must have been very hard for Jacob to accept a lie from his greedy father-in-law, who was bold and able to offer both his daughters in exchange for seven more years of labor.  His uncle had not brought this possibility up and now when the matrimony was performed, he invented such a story.  In the end, because he loved Rachel, Jacob worked seven more years to have her finally in his arms.  Where or when there is love, the cost is meaningless; the price is worth investing in.

When Jacob completed his time he was able to marry her.  Could it be that Laban would set up another trick?  Honestly, yes.  When Jacob asked Laban for wages in exchange for his work, in order to support his family, they came to an agreement but his father-in-law changed the salary ten times.

In Christ, with Love,

R. R. Soares