The God Pause Daily Devotional of The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 24 July 2017 - Genesis 29:15-28
Genesis 29:
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Sometimes we are deceived. Sometimes we deserve it due to our own deceptions. Other times we're innocent victims. Yet, we must live in a way that does not plan for or anticipate deceit! Why, you might ask? Because to live in a way that anticipates falsity is to trap ourselves in the prison of distrust, a more rotten habituation than that of being occasionally hornswoggled. All tricksters--aka Jacob--eventually meets their match--their Laban--or end up tricking themselves. We commiserate with what seems like betrayal. Who hasn't felt indignant when expecting a sheep, yet receiving a heifer (for this was of course the humorous pun in the original Hebrew story)? Yet when God gives us what we get, and not what we think what we want, we don't always realize this as a blessing. Eventually, however, we may find a greater gift of mercy in the disruption of our self-destructive desires.
Holy God, lead us to live without deceit, even while knowing that we will fail at this, and be tricked. And show us how what we want is most deeply what you want, even if it means we have to wait for it! Amen.
Ryan Pusch, '17
Awaiting first call in the Southwest Pennsylvania Synod
Genesis 29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah's eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful.
18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."
19 Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me."
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed."
22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast.
23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.
24 (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.)
25 When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
26 Laban said, "This is not done in our country--giving the younger before the firstborn.
27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years."
28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. [New Revised Standard Version]
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15 Lavan said to him, “Why should you work for me for nothing, just because you are my relative? Tell me how much I should pay you.” 16 Now Lavan had two daughters; the name of the older was Le’ah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Le’ah’s eyes were weak; but Rachel was good-looking, with beautiful features.
(iii) 18 Ya‘akov had fallen in love with Rachel and said, “I will work for you seven years in exchange for Rachel your younger daughter.” 19 Lavan answered, “Better that I give her to you than to someone else; stay with me.” 20 So Ya‘akov worked seven years for Rachel, and it seemed only a few days to him, because he was so much in love with her.
21 Ya‘akov said to Lavan, “Give me my wife, since my time is finished, so that I can start living with her.” 22 Lavan gathered all the men of the place and gave a banquet. 23 In the evening he took Le’ah his daughter and brought her to Ya‘akov, and he went in and slept with her. 24 Lavan also gave his slave-girl Zilpah to his daughter Le’ah as her slave-girl.
25 In the morning Ya‘akov saw that he was with Le’ah, and he said to Lavan, “What kind of thing is this that you’ve done to me? Didn’t I work for you for Rachel? Why have you deceived me?” 26 Lavan answered, “In our place that isn’t how it’s done, to give the younger daughter before the firstborn. 27 Finish the marriage week of this one, and we’ll give you the other one also in exchange for the work you will do for me during yet another seven years.” 28 Ya‘akov agreed to this, so he finished her week, and Lavan gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
(Complete Jewish Bible)Sometimes we are deceived. Sometimes we deserve it due to our own deceptions. Other times we're innocent victims. Yet, we must live in a way that does not plan for or anticipate deceit! Why, you might ask? Because to live in a way that anticipates falsity is to trap ourselves in the prison of distrust, a more rotten habituation than that of being occasionally hornswoggled. All tricksters--aka Jacob--eventually meets their match--their Laban--or end up tricking themselves. We commiserate with what seems like betrayal. Who hasn't felt indignant when expecting a sheep, yet receiving a heifer (for this was of course the humorous pun in the original Hebrew story)? Yet when God gives us what we get, and not what we think what we want, we don't always realize this as a blessing. Eventually, however, we may find a greater gift of mercy in the disruption of our self-destructive desires.
Holy God, lead us to live without deceit, even while knowing that we will fail at this, and be tricked. And show us how what we want is most deeply what you want, even if it means we have to wait for it! Amen.
Ryan Pusch, '17
Awaiting first call in the Southwest Pennsylvania Synod
Genesis 29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?"
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah's eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful.
18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."
19 Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me."
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed."
22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast.
23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.
24 (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.)
25 When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
26 Laban said, "This is not done in our country--giving the younger before the firstborn.
27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years."
28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. [New Revised Standard Version]
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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