The Sad Awakening

Jacob worked for seven years for the privilege of marrying Rachel, and it seemed to him but a few days. This is because of his love for her. That is all that is said about these years, but we can feel the heartbeat of expectancy of those two young people. Girls of the east mature quickly, and it is possible that Rachel was only thirteen years of age when Jacob first saw her. By the end of the seven years, she was a mature young woman, and Jacob was anxious to receive the reward of his labors.

The custom of the land was to have a great wedding feast, all the neighbors gathered, and the wine flowing freely. The bride was kept out of sight until time to come to her husband. Finally, late in the evening, when Jacob was well filled with wine, the bride was brought in, her face covered with a veil, and the marriage was consummated.

When morning came and his head was clear, he found he had married Leah, the older sister. He was furious and went to Laban in a rage. “Seven years I labored faithfully, and you have tricked me! Why would you do this to me, your own nephew?” He was now reaping the harvest of his own cunning, deceiving nature. What a man sows that shall he also reap.

“Oh,” said the cunning old Laban. “Didn’t I explain the law of the land to you? The younger sisters cannot be married off until first their older sisters are married. According to the law and the custom of the land, I had to let you marry Leah before Rachel was qualified to be wed. But now she is ready, so if you will fulfill the wedding week for Leah, give her the customary honeymoon, then we’ll have another wedding, and you and Rachel can be married.”

What could Jacob say? He was trapped by the law, and he did not want some other man to marry his beloved Rachel. Where was she during the wedding? Hidden away somewhere by her scheming father, most likely grieving about her promised husband and her hated sister. So Jacob agreed, and the honeymoon week went on, unpleasant though it must have been.

After Leah’s honeymoon, Jacob wedded Rachel, his true beloved, before any payment was made. He had to work yet another seven years in return for her. The bride of the law was paid for in advance, but the beloved was the bride of grace, nothing having been paid for until after she was really his. So it is with us. We cannot be satisfied with what we have earned or worked for under the law. When we receive the real thing, we find we have paid nothing for it, but we labor the rest of our lives in a labor of love and gratitude (Ephesians 2:8-10).