September 16, 2026; Genesis 29

Daily Dose of Hope September 16, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 29   Prayer:  Abba Father, Prepare our hearts for your Word today.  Help us approach this Scripture with an openness to learning something new from you.  Jesus, thank you for your perfect example of mercy and love.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis.  Today, we read Genesis 29.   Jacob is not in Haran, where his mother's brother, Laban, lives.  He meets his cousin, Rachel, and falls for her, basically saying he will work for his Uncle Laban for seven years in exchange for the ability to marry Rachel.  Romantic love is very uncommon in the Old Testament so this is a bit of a unusual circumstance.  Laban is a deceiver and trickster, not unlike Jacob himself.  After seven years of labor, there is a wedding and Laban gives Jacob Leah (the older sister) instead of Rachel.  We don't know why Jacob didn't notice the sister switch.  Maybe it was dark, maybe she was veiled, or maybe he was drunk.  Regardless, Leah becomes his first wife.    I have always felt so sorry for Leah.  Not only was she the less favored sister, but her father pawns her off to a man who doesn't want her.  I can't imagine how humiliating this must have been for her.   Jacob wakes up the morning after the wedding and realizes that he has married Leah instead of Rachel.  He is really mad and insists on Laban giving him Rachel.  After a week, Laban does so, but Jacob must agree to seven more years of labor.   The text refers to Leah as the unloved wife.  But she does have many children, four boys right off the bat.  Rachel, on the other hand, has none.  What Laban has done is create a wedge between the sisters and many sad years of competition.   Did Jacob get a taste of his own medicine?  Maybe, but it was at the cost of these two women, who had very little control over their lives.    But regardless, God is going to work his plan.  Leah's boys (at this point in the story) are Reuben, Simeon, Judah, and Levi.  Levi will be the ancestor of Israelites priests and Judah will be the ancestor of Israelites kings.  And we should also mention God's promise to Abraham that he will be the father of many nations.  This covenant will be fulfilled even with Laban's trickery and the sad rivalry between Leah and Rahel.  God fulfills his promises, even through flawed human beings.   Once again, that should bring us a sense of encouragement!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki