May 28 - Genesis 29:20

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel,

and they seemed to him but a few days

because of the love he had for her.

Genesis 29:20

 

One of the great love stories in the Bible involves Jacob and Rachel.

 

Marital customs were different back then, though! To marry a woman, you didn’t ask the lady for her hand. No! You asked her dad!

 

I know. I know. That has been a tradition in many places over many centuries. But in Rachel’s case, her daddy really did hold the keys to your happiness!

 

Thus, when Jacob asked for Rachel’s hand in marriage, it came with seven strings attached. And the seven strings were seven long years of service on father-Laban’s ranch. That was Jacob’s price for daughter-Rachel’s hand.

 

Now comes the love-story part. Re-read our verse for today: “Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.” Wow!

 

That’s love.

 

That’s commitment.

 

In fact, it wound up being twice the commitment! If you remember the story, Laban tricked Jacob, and Jacob had to serve seven MORE years to gain Rachel’s hand.

 

Fourteen years!

 

In our world, we’re impulsive. Culturally, people are doing less and less well with patience and delayed gratification. Television has trumpeted the notion that the third date is “supposed to be” physical … and that’s “supposed to” define the relationship. No! I’m not suggesting fourteen years of courtship! But great love stories do involve a little godly patience.

 

Question: Does patience (a fruit of the Spirit) or impulsiveness define your life?

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who likes permanence

rather than impulsiveness