THROUGH THE BIBLE COMMENTARY

This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears.

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

GENESIS
CHAPTER 29

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. 4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

Rebekah had told Jacob to find her brother Laban. When he finally got
to the city, he went to the well. The well of a city was like
the local store of a small community. You could get a cold drink,
hear a weather forecast, catch up on local gossip, find something
to eat, find a place to sleep - or find someone you were looking for.
As Jacob inquired about Laban, the local man pointed out Laban's
daughter Rachel.

7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. 9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.

Jacob's statement about uncovering the well is more of an inquiry:
"Why don't you go ahead and water your sheep?" But they told him
they must wait until all were gathered together.
Wouldn't it be interesting for a local church to have the
same philosophy? Why don't we go get ALL the members
who can possibly attend and THEN get fed by the Word?
Most churches will find that their greatest evangelistic effort
would be among MEMBERS ON THE ROLL!!

10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. 13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

Jacob met Rachel, she ran and told her father Laban. After listening
to Jacob talk about his life with Rebekah, Laban KNEW Jacob was her son.
After people listen to our testimony of our life with Jesus, will they
KNOW that we are a child of God?

15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

Evidently, Jacob was working while he stayed with Laban. Laban
offered wages; but Jacob wanted RACHEL as payment. And he agreed
to SEVEN YEARS of labor to pay for her as his wife!
Gentlemen, is YOUR wife worth that much to you? Do you honor
and respect her that much?
Verse 20 tells us that Jacob's love for Rachel made those seve years
seem like only a few days!

21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

Oh my! The trickster was TRICKED!!
When you make agreements with someone, be sure you check out all
the "customs and traditions."

27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

These verses indicate there was a custom of one week for the bride
and groom before any other arrangements could be made.
Also, verse 27 indicates that Laban gave Rachel at the end
of that week on the grounds that Jacob would work an
additional seven years for him.
Well, at least Jacob's word was becoming valuable now.
Christians, how valuable is your word in the community
where you live and work?

29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

Jacob is now a polygamist and in for a "heap of trouble!"
He should have learned about favoritism from his own family.
But, alas, we often make the same mistakes as our forefathers.
Jacob showed remarkable preferential treatment when it came to
Rachel.
Note: the word "hated" could have easily been translated
"slighted."

32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

The record shows four sons in quick succession: Reuben,
Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
We might want to make a note here. The one "least preferred" is the
one from which our Saviour comes! His physical descendency is from
Judah, born by Leah.

"And base things of the world, and things which are despised,
hath God chosen, yeah, and things which are not, to bring to nought
things that are:"(1Cor. 1:28).

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.