# 270 The Greatest Love

The Book of Genesis

Day 270

Ge 29:23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.  24 And Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. 25 So it came to pass 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 you? Why then have you deceived me?" 26 And Laban said, "It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 "Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years." 28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. 29 And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. 30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

After feasting all day, Jacob was likely a little tipsy. Add the fact that the custom for brides was that they were heavily veiled on their wedding day and you can see how Laban was able to pull off this ruse.  The custom of the heavily veiled bride reminds me that now we see dimly, but then (at the Great Consummation) we will see with perfect clarity!  The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul, put it this way: 1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

The custom of marrying off the oldest daughter first was an ancient custom of Mesopotamia, but Laban should have at least informed Jacob of this BEFORE the wedding night!

I wonder if this incident raised any thoughts in Jacob’s mind about the custom in his country of the oldest child receiving the blessing. That was something that he had tricked Esau out of. It’s ironic that he stole the blessing through the veiled eyesight of Isaac, just as he was robbed of his first love through the veil placed on Leah! We reap what we sow don’t we?

Then there’s the matter of giving a maidservant to the married couple! This servant was regarded as  the sole property of the bride and she could command her to do whatever. Many times that “whatever” involved producing more children for the family! This will come into play later on as we shall see.

One thing that we don’t want to miss in all of this is the great love Jacob had for Rachel. He basically told Laban, “I love Rachel so much I will gladly work for you for another seven years just to have her as my bride!”

What love! Yet nothing compared to the love of God for you and I! “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

God purchased us from sin, death, and the devil with the dowry of His only Son’s life! What love Jesus has for you and I!

Joh 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.