Good Morning.
Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years. (Genesis 29:29-30)
As I said yesterday, Jacob had not intended to marry Leah, the plain one, but to marry Rachel, the “stunning one. ” Initially he did not get what he was looking for which leads me to consider that there is a prophetic element to this situation. While Leah bore multiple children to Jacob, Rachel bore only two — Joseph and Benjamin. Yet, Joseph is the one who saved the entire family of Israel in a time of crisis. When Jacob’s sons went to Egypt seeking bread they ended up finding Joseph.
That Jacob wanted Rachel but was given Leah alludes to Israel’s expectations of the Messiah. In other words, when He first appeared to them two thousand years ago, they were not overly impressed. As Isaiah recorded:
“For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:2-3)
Israel wanted “Rachel” but ended up with “Leah” in a manner of speaking. And like Jacob of old, Israel will have to “fulfill her week” in order to be joined to the One they have been longing for. That thought brings me to this: Who are you expecting? Are you looking for Him? When you see Him will you recognize Him? Most importantly, will He recognize you? It is of the utmost importance that we make certain we know Him and He knows us and, so, let us not be lax in our commitment to Him. Let us love and serve Him with all our hearts.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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