Read with Me
Genesis 29:9-14a (HCSB)
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban’s daughter Rachel with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly. He told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him, and kissed him. Then he took him to his house, and Jacob told him all that had happened.
Laban said to him, “Yes, you are my own flesh and blood.”
Listen with Me
As soon as Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, it was time to move the heavy stone away from the mouth of the well. Jacob was so overcome with joy at arriving at his journey’s end that he didn’t wait for the others, but simply rolled the stone off the well single-handedly. Then he himself drew water for his uncle’s sheep.
Rachel had no idea who this stranger was or why he was acting so strangely. The mystery and intensified when he approached her and began weeping aloud. It took a few minutes for him to calm down, and when he did, he explained to her that he was the grandson of Abraham, the son of Rachel’s aunt, Rebekah.
Rachel was so startled at the news that she left the sheep at the well and ran home to tell her father. When Laban heard what she said, he himself hurried out to the well and brought Jacob back to the house so that he and the whole family could hear the news.
Family relations are cherished among the Bedouins even to this day. But before he simply accepted Jacob as who he claimed to be, Laban wanted to hear the whole story. It had been nearly a century since his sister had gone off with Abraham’s servant to marry Isaac, and he had a lot of questions about how his sister was getting along.
By the end of this time of sharing, Laban was convinced that Jacob was really his close relative, his sister’s son, and proclaimed it for all to hear. He then invited Jacob to stay with the family, and he agreed. But this was no vacation. Jacob intended to stay until he found a wife. Since he knew shepherding, he began to help with the flocks of his uncle.
Pray with Me
Father, Jacob had come four hundred miles safely to Haran and had been led to the area where his uncle lived. Now, after the appropriate introductions had been made, he had a place to stay and productive work to do. You had been with him up to that point and had promised him success in his mission to find a wife. Little did he know that You would fulfill that promise more completely than he could ever imagine! Lord, You always seem to have more stored up for us than we expect or imagine. The sad part is, we are too often satisfied with our first sip, and then we move on before You can pour out into our lives all that You have stored up for us. Help me, Lord, to receive all you want to give me in fulfillment of your great promises. Amen.