The Deceiver is Deceived

O.T.#61  "The Deceiver is Deceived"
June 4, 2013
Genesis 29-Part 2
When morning came, there was Leah!  Genesis 29:25a

LET IT GLOW

The scheming and deceiving Jacob has met his match-Laban. We find that they are two peas in a
pod, just alike, if I may say so. You know the kind-take advantage of people so they have the advantage. Users who don't want to be used.

Jacob spent twenty years with Laban. During that time he reaped the sad consequences of his own sins, yet at the same time, God was disciplining him and preparing him for future service.
The first installment of Jacob's discipline-he became a servant. The second installment of Jacob's discipline-the deceiver himself is deceived. Shall we look a little closer at the situation?

First, Jacob became a servant. After being at Laban's house for a month, they discussed wages for Jacob's work. Apparently, Jacob had been helping out around the house or in the fields or with the sheep.
 Laban said, "Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing?
Tell me what your wages should be."
Now Jacob was in love with Rachel. His bargain was to work 7 years for Laban in exchange for Rachel to be his wife. (Scheming again)

The NIV says verse 20 this way: So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed
like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Aaah! Isn't that sweet? Isn't that romantic? Here Jacob found the woman of his dreams and he was willing to wait and work 7 years before marrying her? What's up with that plan? Seven years are a long time to me.
Am I willing to wait for God's promises to be fulfilled in my life? If so, how long? Am I serving
the Lord while I wait for His timing? Time marches on, to the beat of the drum, and the beat seems to speed up when you get older.

Jesus loved us so much that He willingly came to earth and lived 33 years among evil mankind. He even know the outcome-killed on a cross. But then, He arose from the dead to provide us with
eternal life. Do you believe this?

LET IT GROW

All right, discipline installment number two-the deceiver himself is deceived.
Laban was not about to forfeit his elder daughter's chances for marriage, so he forced Jacob to
marry her. Jacob lied about the firstborn (27:19); now he is lied to about the firstborn (29:26). (Wiersbe)

What must have happened, Laban took Leah, his oldest daughter, in stead of Rachel, the one Jacob loved and worked 7 years for, to the marriage tent that dark night in question. In the morning, the truth was made known-he slept with Leah. Jacob confronted Laban, agreed to stay with Leah, then took Rachel to be his wife, after agreeing to work 7 more years for her. He gets himself into more messes.

Jacob reaped what he had sown. Pay backs are tough. We don't think about "down the road" do we.
Living in a little town, I have seen some messes people have gotten themselves into.
What can we learn from this? Sin will find you out.

LET IT GO

Confess, seek forgiveness, change, turn around.

Look before I jump.

Seek the Lord's will first, then obey Him.

Don't be a deceiver; God sees all.