Year 1, Day 28: Genesis 29

Mesopotamian Life

Oh boy.  Genesis 29 is a fun passage to be sure.  If we get nothing else, we see Jacob “the deceiver” get a taste of his own medicine.  But we’ll get to that.  Before we go there, let’s spend a little time talking about the meeting of Jacob and his people.

Jacob shows incredible tact about his arrival in Mesopotamia.  When he arrives, he first goes to the well outside of the town.  He knows full well that these people will need to water their flocks and he knows that if he waits there he will have a great opportunity to not only meet people (and gain an introduction into the town) but also show himself useful in watering the flocks.  This approach was common in the Middle East when a stranger was entering a town, but it is still shrewd.

To set the scene of why the order of event happened here, we should remember that this is the Middle East.  This is the land of dry air and shifting sand.  Wells – when they were found – would need to be covered in order to prevent evaporation through the mouth of the well.  Furthermore, they would need to be covered in order to prevent the well from filling up with sand as it blew about.  Usually what would happen is the well would be covered with a flat stone that had a hole in the center.  Over this hole a round stone would be placed – a stone of sufficient size that it would require several men to roll away.  Thus the well could be safely sealed while also providing a reasonably easy means to access the water through the hole in the lowest stone.

Furthermore, it is also common practice in the Middle East to water all the flocks at once in order to minimize the amount of time that the well was exposed to the dry air and thus minimize the evaporation that occurred.  This is why we see Jacob asking the shepherds why they seem to be milling about doing nothing in the middle of the day.  They are waiting for all the flocks to gather around so that the well would be opened as little as possible during the day. 

When the time comes for the well to be opened, notice that Jacob helps open the well.  He is indeed shrewd in his dealing with the people of Mesopotamia.

Leah the Tender

Of course, Jacob then heads of to meet Laban and he sets up the contract for Rachel.  There Jacob meets Leah.  Genesis 29:17 is often translated as “Leah’s eyes were weak,” but a more literal reading would say “Leah’s eyes were tender.”  This is a fairly typical description of a person who had blue eyes – as blue eyes were often considered a blemish among the people of Middle Eastern culture.  However, I find it significant that Leah is described as tender. 

It is Leah who produces Judah, and Judah is eventually the lineage of David and Jesus.  Out of weakness, God brings His strength.  God does not need us to be strong and independent; God needs us to be humble and ready to submit to Him.

Younger Versus Elder

Here is Genesis we find yet another common theme – one that I haven’t spoken of too often.  In Genesis, it is quite common for the younger to replace the older.  Of Adam and Eve’s children, Seth is ultimately the chosen one over Cain.  We have already seen that Jacob is chosen over Esau.  Here Rachel is chosen over Leah.  In the future we will see Joseph (and ultimately Benjamin) chosen over all the older brothers.

It is interesting here to note that in this specific case it works to Jacob’s disadvantage.  Yes, Jacob is the chosen one via birthright.  Yet the fact that the youngest sister is also chosen in Rachel means that the issue of Leah gets thrown in Jacob’s face and he gets outmaneuvered.  I enjoy how God can take our strengths and make them weaknesses as well as take our weaknesses and make them strengths.  God often turns what the world considers right on its head and works through an upside-down divine economy.

Leah’s Children

Finally, let’s talk about Leah and her children.  I got hung up today on the word “hated.” (See Genesis 29:31)  The dictionary of Bible languages gives the following definitions for the Hebrew word used here: “abhor, detest, loathe, be hostile, have a feeling of open hostility and intense dislike.”  Let there be no doubt, this is not a simple word expressing displeasure.  This is a word expressing distaste and extreme dislike.  Jacob didn’t get his way, and Leah paid the price for being the older sister.

How does God respond?  God makes her quite fertile.  God raises her up in Jacob’s community.  Don’t get me wrong, God isn’t paying Jacob back, here.  God isn’t punishing Jacob by making Leah fertile.  Rather, God is coming beside Leah, consoling her in her lot in life, and blessing her.  We can see that in the names that are given to these children.  These children are given names that express a favorable relationship with God.  Leah gives these children names that bring honor to God.  As I said earlier, ultimately it is through Leah’s child that David and Jesus will come.

What are the lessons that we can learn from this reading today?  God is there when we need him.  When dealing with the world, let us take on the servant’s role of being willing to work, being respectful of other people’s customs, and being fully confident that God will take care of those who remain faithful to Him.

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