The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 421

HOMILETICS. Vera. 15-30.-Jacob and Laban, or the deceiver decdved. I. JAcoB's CONTRACT WITH LABAN. 1. 1'he promiaed service-seven years of pastoral !l8Sistance. (1) Freel1 offere1l. '· I will serve thee seven years." Contracts are leg11.!ly and morally invalid where f,c.:ldom in the promiser does not exist. (2) Faithfully rendered. Jacob II served seven years," as he had stipulated. Voluntary engagements should be deemed sacred. (3) Readily accepted. Laban both appreciated' Jacob's merits as a shepherd and regarded Jacob's terms as easy. If Le.ban's words in closing with Jacob's offer did not indicate his guile, they were at least evidence of his greed. (4) Harshly exacted. Jacob testifies as much on leaving Laban. Covetous souls do not shrink from making hard bargains even with relatives and friends. 2. The stipv:Jated wages-Rachel in marriage as a wife. This part of the contract was- (1) Eagerly desired by Jacob. "Jacob loved Raebel," who was beautiful both in face and form. It is not sinful either to appreciate or desire personal symmetry and grace in those to whom we yield our affections. Female loveliness, though it may enkindle love, need not render the heart that loves less pure. (2) Patiently waited for by Jacob. This was a testimony to the purity, tenderness, and strength of Jacob's affection. Besides transforming seven years into a few days, and ma.king pleasant and lightsome labour of what would otherwise have been galling bondage, it enabled him to wait God's time for receiving his bride. (3) Cheerfully assented to by Laban. "It is better that I give her to thee than that I should give her to another man." Yet--(4) Guilefully withheld by Laban. Avaricious men seldom scruple at deceiv- ing others for the sake of profit. Greed of gain is commonly accompanied by guile of men. II. LABAN's DECEPTION 0l!' JACOB. 1. The just request. 11 Give me my wife." "The labourer is worthy of his hire," and the servant is entitled to his wages. 2. The marriage festival. "Laban made e. feast." Seemingly assenting to his nephew's request, the crafty uncle prepares a wedding banquet. Feasting and rejoicing are both becoming and allowable in connection with marriage celebration!!. 3. The sub- at,ituted bride. Either at the end of the first day or at the close of the festivities, "Laban took Leah and brought her," veiled nnd in silence, to the bridal chamber. For the wickedness of Laban in breaking his promise, defrnuding bis nephew, wronging his younger daughter, and practically prostituting his elder, excuse is im- possible ; for Leah's acquiescence in her father's plot explanation, though not npology, may be found in her manifest love for Jacob, and perhaps in her belief that Laban had secured Jacob's consent to the arrangement. The man who could sell one daughter's affections nnd sacrifice nnotber's would not stick at deceiving both, if he could. 4. Tlie discovered fraud. "In the morning, behold, it wns Leah." The day manifests whnt the night hides-the sins of men; and the light of the great day will disclose what the darkness of time conceals. 6. The lame excuse. Inter- rogated by Jacob, Laban offers in extenuation of his heartless deception that popular custom demanded the marriage of an elder sister before a younger. So public opinion, prevailing habit, universal practice, are often pied in apology for offences against the Inw of God. But the conventional maxims of society are of no weight when set against Divine commandments. 6. The rigliteo113 retribution. Though indefensible on the part of Laban, the substitution of Leah for Rachel was a de- served punishment of Jacob. Having wronged Esau his brother, he is in turn wronged by "u brother "-Laban. Having substituted the younger (himself) for the older (Esau), .ao is recompensed by ho.ving the older put into the pl11ce of the younger. Ae Isaao knew not when he blessed Jacob, so Jacob knows not when he marries Loah. As Jacob acted at the instigation of his mother, Leah yields to the suggestion of her fo.ther. 7. The amicable settlement. Jacob celebrates the week of festival for Leah, nnd then receives Rachel as o. wife, engaging to serve another term of seven years for her who had lightened the labour of the previous seven. If Jacob's conduct evinced sincere attachment to Rachel o.nd peaceful disposition towardii Laban, it displayed doubtful regard for the law of God. 362 'l'HE BOOK OF GENESIS. [vu. XXIX. 15-80.