The story of Jacob and Rachel is a biblical love story. It is an interesting piece of Scripture that has lots to teach us.
Jacob’s Origin Story
Jacob’s life story begins in Genesis 25, beginning with Isaac, son of Abraham, and Rebekah. Rebekah is barren and becomes pregnant after Isaac prays on her behalf.
Finding two babies wrestling in her womb, she prays, and God tells her, “In her womb were two nations, and two peoples from within you will be separated: one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
These two babes would soon be known as Esau and Jacob. The two defined “chalk and cheese.” Esau was a red-haired boy who was a skilled hunter and loved the outdoors.
Jacob was a boy content to stay home among the tents. This divide was also obvious with their parents, Isaac loved Esau, and Rebekah loved Jacob. The boys grew up to be enemies.
Their childhood stories consist of theft, deception, and trickery. Esau, after a day of hunting, sells his birthright to Jacob in return for fresh-cooked stew (Genesis 25). Jacob, not content with having only the birthright, steals from Esau his blessing.
Jacob must go on the run to save himself from Esau’s anger and travels to his extended family in Paddan Aram to find a wife (Genesis 27 and 28).
Already we are seeing a trend with Jacob; he is cutthroat and will do anything to get what he wants. His name means “to supplant or circumvent,” which is how he is living his life.
As he travels from Beersheba, God puts him in a deep sleep, and he sees a vision. He declared that God would be his God, and he set up a stone as a memorial, vowing to give God a tenth of the blessings from God.
Jacob reaches Paddan Aram, more than 400 miles from home. He walks near the village and sees shepherds at a well. He asks about Laban, his maternal uncle. As he speaks with these shepherds, walking towards him is Rachel, his cousin. It seems it was love at first sight!
Rachel goes to tell her father that Jacob has arrived. Laban rushes to meet his nephew and brings him in. He works for Laban for one month before he hears the words: “Tell me what your wages should be.”
Jacob had already decided upon what he wanted from Laban, to marry Rachel. He agrees to work for seven years to pay off the dowry. Laban agrees, and the deal is set.
Jacob spends his days diligently working, and after the years have passed, he asks Laban for his wife as arranged.
Laban agrees to his side of the deal, invites the community together, and throws a backyard feast to celebrate the union. Great food and the friends they held dear are welcomed. It must have been a brilliant celebration.
But like all great stories, there would be a twist, not one Jacob would welcome. At the end of the night, as Jacob is tired, he arrives at the wedding tent and spends the night with his new wife.
However, as morning dawns and the sun brightens the room, Jacob opens his sleepy eyes, finding the woman beside him was not Rachel but her sister Leah. In the custom of the day, an older sister had to be married off first, and Laban took the chance to have Leah married.
Jacob was angry. He had been betrayed and deceived; this feels like history repeating itself. Jacob knew Esau was entitled to the birthright and blessing, and he tricks him out of them. Now, he finds himself on the other end of deceit and does only what he knows to do — barter.
Jacob and Rachel
Jacob already loved Rachel. But once confronted, Laban asks him to complete his bridal week with Leah and then agrees to work seven more years for Rachel’s hand in marriage. Jacob loved Rachel so much that he agreed.
I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to be Leah or Rachel. Leah would have known, like the rest of the village, that she was tricking the man her sister loved and would live as a second fiddle to what could have been a great love story.
But she also wouldn’t have been given the choice. Laban would have made this decision for her. It must have been an awful time for her.
Rachel, however, didn’t have it easy either. She was outdone by the wedding she envisioned to the man of her dreams to save face for her sister. Now she would have to share her beloved. Neither woman’s life would ever be easy!
But, like in all circumstances, God recognizes the brokenhearted. He saw that Leah was unloved, and so He opened her womb, and she carried children.
Leah held in her womb six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, and Judah, and one daughter, Dinah. Some of these sons held a prominent place in Scripture.
Rachel was devastated that she was unable to bear a son for Jacob due to barrenness and was very jealous of her sister. In response, she hands over her maidservant Bilhah to enable the growth of their family.
Jacob has 10 sons and one daughter through Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah, and Rachel has still not borne any children. She had given away her maidservant, bribed Leah for Mandrakes that she thought would help her infertility, and still she was barren.
Eventually, Scripture says that God remembers Rachel. She bears a son, and his name is Joseph.
It is at this point that Jacob requests to leave Laban’s home with his flocks, wives, and children. Jacob hatches a plan that would continue to grow his wealth and then in Genesis 31, God tells Jacob it is time to leave.
Jacob sends for his wives and decides to leave Paddan Aram without telling Laban. Rachel, in the process, steals her father’s idols. But while traveling, Laban catches up with them and accuses Jacob of taking his gods.
Jacob declares the one who has stolen them will die, not knowing Rachel had. After searching the tents, Laban gets to Rachels, who lies to her father, to continue the deception. It is here that Laban and Jacob make a covenant before God.
The lies Rachel tells, and the theft are not honored in Scripture but simply placed their as an acknowledgement of the moment. Both men go their separate ways.
Jacob may have fled from Laban seemingly successfully, but it would only be a matter of time before he would encounter his old life face on.
Esau could still be bearing a grudge and patiently awaiting the day he would return home to make him pay.
Along the way, Jacob wrestles with God, finds his daughter Dinah has been attacked by Shechem, son of Hamor, a Hivite, he meets Esau, and he sets his eyes upon a return to Bethel with his family.
But before they leave, he ensures the family has buried all foreign idols, and Genesis 35 tells us that he commands the family to consecrate themselves because their lives would now be built upon God, and the fear of God went with them.
It is here Jacob’s name is changed by God to Israel and the Abrahamic promise is repeated (Genesis 12).
Shortly after, they leave Bethel, and while a long way off, Ephrath, Rachel, and Jacob’s story takes another turn.
Jacob and Rachel find themselves conceiving a second child many years after Jacob had his first child with Leah. During childbirth, Rachel begins to get into great difficulty, and as she bears her son, Benjamin, she breathes her last breath and is buried there.
Why Does This Matter?
Jacob and Rachel’s story is an incredible one. This is a very brief overview. There were so many things that could be drawn out of their narrative. But I believe their story teaches us a valuable life lesson.
Life does not always go as we planned. Our plans change, others wrong us, we can be hurt, and love stories don’t always end in fairy tales. But in all the things we face, God is good, and His plans for our lives will always come to pass.
Through the life of Jacob, we see some of his children have significant roles in Scripture. The Messiah came from Judah’s line. Levite priests came from Levi. Naphtali’s tribe goes with Gideon to battle the Midianites in Judges.
Samson comes from the line of Dan. Gad's descendants were great warriors (1 Chronicles 12), and Asher’s were great peacemakers. Issachar came to David’s aid in the battle with Saul (1 Chronicles 12), and Zebulon is mentioned in Judges 5 as brave and valiant!
Joseph partnered with God in saving the nation from famine in Egypt, and Benjamin’s descendants are some of the scriptures' greatest leaders, including Queen Esther, Mordecai, King Saul, and Apostle Paul!
God is always in control, and if we let Him, He will lead us on the right path. He will show us what we should be doing and where we should be going.
He will take all our mistakes, our righteousness, our confusion, and He will place a Holy hand upon it, using it all for the glory and the Kingdom of God!
If we re-read all of Jacob and Rachel’s story again, we see God speaking into Jacob’s life and encouraging him to walk in certain paths, despite Jacob’s choice of behavior.
So let this be your lesson learned, friend. God can take all things and use them for His glory (Romans 8:28).
For further reading:
Was Rebekah a Good Mother to Jacob and Esau?
Who Were Jacob and Esau in the Bible? Story and Meaning
What Do We Learn about Reuben in the Bible?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/PaulCalbar
