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Lesson 27

The Deceiver Out Deceived

Genesis 29

Me-

Seeing how the world operates I have become somewhat cynical in my old age.  I have learned to be suspicious of those who are offering what they claim to be a good deal.  The old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true then it is actually too good to be true.”  Anyone offering something for nothing is probably trying to deceive.  Today more than ever I find that people are trying to prey on especially the elderly attempting to cheat them out of their money. 

Many years ago some individuals I know got caught up in a Ponzi scheme. As much as I tried to warn them they would not listen and lost money in the process.  I have found the only way to discover whether something is valid is to research it.  The second and most important thing for each of us who call ourselves followers of Christ is to ask does our actions line up with the word of God.

We-

The Bible is full of examples of individuals, including those in our present study, who made it a practice to mislead others.  Even in churches today, people are being led by false shepherds in to believing false teachings.  Just look at the issues of homosexuality, abortion and accepting conduct not proper for believers in which God’s word has been twisted to suit themselves. 

Throughout the studies for the last few weeks, we have seen the trouble brought on in the lives of Abraham and his descendents because they did not seek God’s guidance.  We should know by now that He will never mislead us.  Paul met a group of people who would not be fooled.  In Acts 17:11 we are told of the attitude of the Bereans.  It was said of them, “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”  They heard Paul but verified what he said to be true by God’s word.  This should be our practice as well.  One reason that we do not is because it takes work and most of us are not willing to take the time to do so.

God

Genesis 29:1-3

With the promise of God ringing in his ears Jacob proceeded on his journey to Padam-Aram.  Looking around, upon his arrival, he saw shepherds with their flocks at a well so he would have known that he was close to the city. The writer makes special note of the fact that the stone covering the well was very large, therefore quite heavy.  As one would imagine the stone was there to keep the water and the well clean.  With the winds the well could very easily be filled with sediment.  Also it was probably to keep people or animals from falling into it.  To keep from having to moving the stone continually the shepherds would wait until all the flocks of the area came together before moving the stone and watering the sheep.

1. How did Jacob know that he was close to a city?
2. What was the reason for the gathering of the shepherds and their sheep?
3. What was the means they used to protect the water supply?
4. Why did the writer allude to the fact that the stone was large?

Genesis 29:4-6

Jacob initiated the conversation with the shepherds.  Notice his boldness.  He began by calling these perfect strangers, brothers.  He may have felt a certain kinship with those men who were in the same possession as he.  Once he had greeted them he then asked where they lived.  To each of his questions their answers were very short and to the point.  They did not know this man and were not about to volunteer any more information than was necessary. Look at the questions and answers.

• Where is your home? Haran
• Do you know Laban? We know him.
• Is everything ok with him? It is well.

They did inform him that Laban’s daughter Rachel was approaching.  Whether they did this to be friendly or to deflect him from asking other questions is unknown.

1. Why did Jacob open the conversation?
2. Why did he call them brothers?
3. Why were the answers to Jacob’s questions so short?
4. What was the importance of knowing where those men lived?
5. What did their answers say about how they viewed Jacob?
6. How was the coming of Rachel different from what had taken place with Rebekah?

Genesis 29:7-8

Jacob’s statement was pretty bold in light of the fact that he was a stranger to the shepherds.  By questioning them he set himself up as an authority on the proper care of sheep. He seemed to imply that the men had wasted a good portion of the day waiting by the well when the sheep could have been in the pasture.   That they even answered him at all is quite surprising.  Their reason rested on the fact that the stone was heavy and large and they did not want to have to move it but once during the day.  It seems to indicate that it would take more than one man to roll it off of the well. To have done it any earlier would have left Rachel to fend for herself.

1. What right did Jacob have in speaking to the shepherds as he did?
2. What does this tell us about Jacob?
3. What does it say about the men that they even answered him at all?
4. What was the advantage for them to wait?
5. Who benefited by their actions?

Genesis 29:9-12

Upon seeing Rachel, Jacob leaped into action.  In a way proving the men wrong about the size and weight of the stone, he rolled it away by himself.  He then watered Rachel’s sheep.  The roles are reversed in the narrative as compared with the servant of Abraham and Rebekah.  Previously Rebekah watered the camels and the servant stood by in amazement.  Here Jacob does the watering while Rachel stood by wondering what was taking place.  It was only after he had finished his task that he identified himself as her relative.  The text gives a good picture of the emotion that he felt having been directed to the right place by God.  Like Rebekah, Rachel left the place and ran to tell her brother, Laban, what had just occurred.

1. Why was Jacob able to do what the other men seemingly could not do by themselves?
2. In what ways was this incident different that the one involving Rebekah?
3. Why did Jacob react as he did?
4. Why did he wait until he had finished watering the sheep did he identify himself?
5. How was the fact that Rachel ran back to Laban’s house reminiscent of Rebekah’s reaction?

Genesis 29:13-14

It should not be surprising that Laban ran to meet Jacob.  Knowing that he was the son of Isaac, who was very wealthy, he might have the same outpouring of generosity that been extended to him previously by Abraham’s servant.  What a shock it would have been when he found Jacob, by himself without any possessions.  He still invited him into his home.  There Jacob told the family about his trip and how God had led him to the home of Laban.  Omitted, most likely, were the details of the reason he had to make the journey. He then spent a month in the home as their guest.

1. Why would Laban run to meet a total stranger?  Remember it had been over 60 years since Rebekah had gone into Canaan to marry Isaac?
2. What did he expect from Jacob?
3. What does Laban’s actions show about his character?
4. Why would Jacob have omitted any reference to the fact that he was actually fleeing from his brother as the reason he was now at Laban’s house?
5. What do you think he shared with the family?

Genesis 29:15-20

Even though Jacob had stayed a month with Laban, from the wording in the text it is obvious that he had not taken advantage of the situation but had actually done some work.  Reading between the lines, one can see that he would have been more than willing to help Rachel with the sheep. After that month it was clear that Jacob was in no hurry to return home, so Laban determined to pay him for the work he was doing. 

Laban had two daughters. Leah was described as having some type of eye problem.  Her sister, Rachel, was beautiful in body and face. Jacob saw this as an opportunity to get Rachel as his wife. He agreed to serve Laban for seven years for her.  His decision was based totally on emotion and not reason.  He still had major lessons to learn about seeking what God wanted him to do and not his own desires.  His agreement was to soon lead to problems because he did not consult God before deciding his future.  Laban knew he had a good deal.  He appeared to be gracious when promising her to Jacob.  Jacob was so in love with Rachel that Moses wrote that the seven years only seem to have lasted a few days.

1. What was the advantage for Laban in asking Jacob what he wanted for wages?
2. What drew Jacob to Rachel and not Leah?
3. How did Jacob’s desire for Rachel give Laban the upper hand in the agreement?
4. What was missing in Jacob’s response?
5. What was the lesson he still needed to learn?
6. If he had sought God’s counsel what might he have done differently?
7. What does it show about him that he was willing to give years of his most productive years to acquire a wife?
8. If you were Laban how would you have handled the situation?
9. If you were Jacob how would you have maybe handled the situation differently?

 

Genesis 29:21-27

Jacob had served Laban faithfully for seven years.  He now came to collect on their agreement.  It was time for Rachel to be given to him as his wife. Laban seemed to go along with the request of Jacob and gave had a feast.  That night however, Laban showed his true character.  He sent Leah into Jacob instead of Rachel.   Instead of Rachel Leah became the wife of Jacob.  Laban knew exactly what he was doing. He even provided a maid for Leah whose name was Zilpah.

This act was one of the most unscrupulous, underhanded, deceitful and hurtful things that could have been carried out on all of the parties involved.  Jacob was deceived thinking Laban an honorable man.  Rachel did not become the wife of Jacob as she expected. Leah was forced to marry a man who she knew did not love her.

Upon waking the following morning Jacob realized what had happened.  Evidently he did not understand Laban’s ground rules which probably changed to meet the situation as shall be seen later.  When questioned he explained the older daughter had to be married before the younger one.   He then proposed that Jacob spend the wedding week with Leah and then he would be given Rachel if he would serve Laban another seven years. 

1. What does this incident show us about Laban’s character?
2. How did he feel about Jacob, Rachel, Leah and even Zilpah?
3. How would you respond if someone had deceived you in some way?
4. Why did Laban know he could get away with that despicable act?
5. What do you think of Jacob’s response?
6. How do you think Rachel and Leah felt about what had been done to them?

Genesis 29:28-30

Jacob knew that he was trapped.  He still loved Rachel so he was willing to be a husband to Leah in order to get Rachel as a wife.  After the week of the wedding festivities, Rachel became his wife.  Laban gave Bilhah as Rachel’s maid.  The last sentence of verse 30 is a good indicator of the problems that were to come.  Moses wrote, “He loved Rachel more than Leah.”  From this one statement it would be expected that each of the women would be treated differently.

1. Why did Jacob not call it quits with Laban after having been deceived by him?
2. What tactic did Laban use to keep Jacob working for him?
3.  What indication do we have of the problems that were coming?
4. What would be the source of the problem?
5. In what ways would the women be treated differently?
6. How does this play out in families today?

Genesis 29:31-35

Two things are known right away.  Rachel, at that point, could not have children.  God saw the situation that existed between Jacob and his two wives and between the two women.  He saw that Rachel was the favorite, but He allowed Leah to be the one to have children.  The names of the four sons she was to bear give a clear picture of her understanding of the relationship she had with Jacob.  Each of the names had a special meaning which expressed her feelings at their birth.

She said of:

• Reuben- God has seen how I am afflicted and has given me a son.  For this reason my husband will love me.
• Simeon-Still on the idea of being unloved, God had given her a second son.
• Levi- Because she had provided three sons surely Jacob would become attached to her.
• Judah- She turned from her focus on Jacob and offered praise to God for the birth of her fourth son.

At that point she stopped having children.  She had given Jacob a good family.  Even though she had given birth to four boys, she surely still felt rejected by Jacob.  With four sons he could look forward to the posterity of his family as God had promised.   

1. Why would the writer conclude that it was God who kept Rachel from having children?
2. Why would God allow Leah to have four sons while Rachel had none?
3. From the way she named her sons what can be concluded about what Leah was experiencing in her life?
4. Why is there no mention of Jacob during that time?
5. Who was really guilty of the tension that was occurring in the lives of the two sisters?
6. What did it mean for Jacob to have four sons?

You-

• Put God at the center of any decision to be made.
• Review your own family situation to see if there is any favoritism taking place.
• Treat those around you with the same respect that you would want to receive.
• Before deciding what to do make sure that you take into consideration the feelings and well-being of others.
• Before taking action make sure that everyone involved understands the rules by which the game is to be played.

We-

As we worked through the by-laws in the church last year one of the main priorities was to make sure that there was a climate of unity.  It was decided that to have winners and losers was not what God intended for His people. The way to achieve this is to make sure that everything we do is in accordance with God’s word and through prayer.  To do otherwise is to create an climate of distrust and divisiveness.  People will act according to the environment in which they work, play and worship.  One last point to remember is that the church will be a reflection of the people who participate.  The basis of a strong Christ like church is to have families who follow the teachings   found in the Bible.  Let us pray as a body that God will build our families as we attempt to build His church

Additional Notes:

C-Upon meeting Rachel Jacob began a journey that would last for 20 years.  This new life would take many different kinds of twists and turns before Jacob ever returned to Canaan. (Gen. 29:9-15)

C-Jacob began working for Rachel’s father.  His wages at the end of the seven years were to be to have Rachel as his wife. The Bible tells us that this time went very quickly because he had a purpose in his work.  His work had a great deal of meaning because instead of Rachel just be given to him he had actually worked for someone he loved deeply. (Gen. 29:15, 18-20)

UE-Jacob, man who was characterized by instant gratification, was willing to serve seven years for a wife. (Gen. 29:18-20)

M-Love is a strong motivator.  Jacob ultimately served Laban for fourteen years for the hand of Rebekah.  Even when he was deceived, he completed his service.                  (Gen. 29:20, 30)

C-The deceiver met his match in Laban.  By deception Leah became Jacob’s wife instead of Rachel.  For her to become his wife he had to work another 7 years. (Gen. 29:21-28)

UE-Through Leah, the unloved wife would come the Christ who like His ancestor was unloved by the world into which He was born.  The child who would be the father of the tribe from which Jesus would come was named Judah which means, “Praise the Lord.” (Gen. 29:31-35M-Laban was a selfish and deceitful man as he showed himself to be over and over again in his relationship with Jacob. (Gen. 29:26)

C-Through Leah Jacob became the father of a son who he called Reuben.                   (Gen. 29:31-32)

RT-Lord saw that Leah was unloved and opened the womb.  It is very informative that we are also told that Rachel was barren. Why did God allow for Rachel to be unproductive at this point in time? (Gen. 29:31)

M-For Leah and Rachel to find fulfillment was to be loved by their husband and to provide him with children. (Gen. 29:32-35, 30:8, 13)

RT-At the birth of each son Leah’s responded making by making the following statements:

1. The Lord has seen my affliction. My husband will love me. (Reuben)                                                                    
2. The Lord has heard I am unloved.  He has given me a son. (Simeon)                                                                    
3. My husband will become attached to me. (Levi)                                       
4. This time I will praise the Lord.  (Judah)                                                                                                             

(Gen. 29:32-35)

WM-In this chapter we begin to see a pattern of deceit from a man who lacked integrity. Laban’s first act was to give Leah to Jacob as his wife instead of Rachel for whom he had served for seven years. (Gen. 29:25-26)

WM-There was a void in Leah’s life.  She desired to have the love of her husband.  The names of her children showed the deep longing she had to receive more attention from Jacob. (Gen. 29:31-35, 30:20)

WM-Laban immediately set to motion a harmful family situation with his scheming.  It led to unhealthy competition between the two sisters who used children and handmaids in their battle for the love and attention of Jacob. (Gen. 29:31-35; 30:1-21, 23-24)

 C-Additional sons were born to Jacob and Leah, Simeon, Levi and Judah. (Gen. 29:33-35)