Value Proposition

Value Proposition

Genesis 29: ¹⁵ Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should 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 delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.

 

¹⁸ Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”

 

¹⁹ And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.

 

============

 

Human ownership had arisen as a custom. Handmaids were property of the wives and herdsmen were property of the flock owners. Laban asked Jacob a precarious question. “What should your wages be?” Jacob had to show that he valued Rachel.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob knew there was a lot at stake in him getting married.
• Jacob desired to marry Rachel.
• Jacob met Rachel first and had sheep herding in common with her, but he also knew about Leah.

 

Since Jacob knew about Leah, he may have also known that a cultural tradition was in place that stated the eldest daughter must be married first, then the next and the next. Jacob tried to circumvent tradition by proposing a large number of years that he would work for Laban to get permission to marry Rachel.

 

Seven years was nothing to Jacob because he was able to interact with Rachel., He had conversations with her and worked side by side with her for seven years tending Laban’s sheep. This seemed very easy to Jacob. But he did not know what was coming.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention Leah’s “delicate” or “Weak” eyes to Moses?
• Have you ever valued something so much that you were willing to work for it?
• Have you ever bargained with GOD, trying to get your way, by telling HIM how many years you’ve done something?