Stick To The Script

Scripture: Genesis 29:9-15

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.

Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah's son, and she ran and told her father. So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he related to Laban all these things. Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh." And he stayed with him a month.

Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"

Commentary:
Jacob had been sent away by his mother "Rebekah," because of the scheme that they had concocted to trick his father Isaac into blessing him with the birthright of the firstborn. The birthright rightfully belonged to his brother Esau. But Jacob and his mother tricked Isaac who was now old and stricken with blindness into thinking that Jacob was Esau. Therefore, the blessing of plenty went to the youngest child instead of the oldest. When Esau found out about this horrific act, he planned to kill Jacob, once his father passed. When Rebekah heard of her older son's plan, a plan was made to send him away, so that she would not loose both her son's in one day. Isaac blessed Jacob once again, and sent him from Beersheba to Haran, where his wife's brother Laban was.

One night as Jacob was sleeping, he had a dream in which God revealed himself; and the plans He had for him. Jacob was overwhelmed by the dream; but vowed that if God would take care of him on his journey, and if he was allowed to return back to his father's house in safety;  that the LORD would be his God.

As Jacob journeyed, he saw a large well in a field, and three flocks of sheep lying beside it; in which the sheep where watered. When all the flocks were gathered, the herdsmen would water the sheep, and put the stone back in it's place on the mouth of the well. Jacob inquired of the herdsmen, and found out that they were from Haran. He then inquired about Laban to see if they knew him. The herdsmen knew Laban, and also told him that Rachel was Laban's daughter, and that she was coming with the sheep.

Jacob asked them shouldn't you be watering the sheep since it is high-day, and it is time for the livestock to be gathered? They told him that they were waiting for all the flocks to be gathered, then they could water the sheep.

While Jacob was yet speaking he saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban; and the sheep that were with her. Jacob rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered Laban's sheep. Jacob kissed Rachel, wept, and told her that he was a relative of her father.

Even though Jacob and his mother were deceitful in their actions, the hand of God rests on Jacob; because of the promise that God made to him. Jacobs' steps were ordered by God, to a place of destiny and purpose.

When Jacob saw Rachel, it was love at first sight. He was so moved by the very presence of her, that his emotions took over. He was not ashamed to cry in the midst of men, or women. He was moved in his heart as soon as he laid eyes on her.

Because the stone was very large, and it took many herdsmen to move it; it stands to reason, that Jacob was a very strong man. He wanted impress this beautiful woman by rolling the stone away with no additional help, and water the entire flock of her father. How could she not be impressed by his ability, and his strength?

Reflection:
God is so wonderful. Even when we do not act according to his will, and we are not pleasing to Him; he still fulfills his Word, and keeps His promises to us. His promises are not based on our ability to stick to the script. He knows that we are going to fail; but that does not make us failures.

However, it is our responsibility to do the best that we can according to the Word of God, so that He can be glorified in everything that we do. When we make a conscious effort to do the will of God, which is His Word; He will continue to help us toward fulfilling our God ordained purpose in him.

Jacob had no idea that he would lay eyes on the woman that would be his wife on his journey. He had no idea what would befall him next. Even though he had a dream about what God was going to do; Jacob was still not quite convinced about this God, because he was running for his life.

However, his past, was his past; and God would fulfill the promise that He made to him; but not without the consequences of being separated from his family, in whom he loved. He also would have to work for years for the woman that he loved, only to be tricked later into marrying her sister; in whom he did not love.

Strong's Concordance Definition: Gen 29:15

Laban = "white" 3837

n pr m
1) son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel


Jacob: 3290
Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter"

1) son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel

you are my relative: 251
1) brother
a) brother of same parents
b) half-brother (same father)
c) relative, kinship, same tribe
d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
e) (fig.) of resemblance

should you therefore serve: 5647
1) to work, serve
a) (Qal)
1) to labour, work, do work
2) to work for another, serve another by labour
3) to serve as subjects
4) to serve (God)
5) to serve (with Levitical service)
b) (Niphal)
1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
2) to make oneself a servant
c) (Pual) to be worked
d) (Hiphil)
1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve
2) to cause to serve as subjects
e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve

me for nothing: 2600
1) freely, for nothing, without cause
a) gratis, gratuitously, for nothing
b) for no purpose, in vain
c) gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly

tell me what: 4100
1) what, how, of what kind
a) (interrogative)
1) what?
2) of what kind
3) what? (rhetorical)
4) whatsoever, whatever, what
b) (adverb)
1) how, how now
2) why
3) how! (exclamation)
c) (with prep)
1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
2) because of what?
3) the like of what?
a) how much?, how many?, how often?
b) for how long?
4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?

wages: 4904
1) wages

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Beginnings - Genesis 29 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 12 Jan 2010. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=29&t=NASB 

Higgins, S. (2009). Stick To The Script. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com