Mother’s Helper / Daddy’s Helper
JACOB GETS TWO WIVES
In our last story, Jacob was sent away to find Laban’s home, in order to get himself a wife from his mother's people. Jacob set out on his trip. On the way, he stopped at a place called “Luz” to spend the night on the ground. He put a stone under his head for a pillow. That night Jacob dreamed of a ladder that reached all the way to heaven. Angels were on the ladder going up and down. Jacob decided God was there and called the place “Bethel.”
Jacob promised God that if He would be with him and bless him he would give God one tenth of all he earned. That was a good promise. All of us ought to give things to God. We do that when we give to the church and to the poor. We should have loving and sharing hearts.
Jacob went on his way, and came to a well with a big rock rolled against the opening. Men were sitting around waiting for other herdsmen to come in so they could move the rock and water their flocks.
Jacob asked if they knew Laban, and how he was getting along. They said they knew Laban and that he was doing well. They also told him that Laban’s daughter, Rachel, was coming to the well with her father’s flock. Jacob rolled the stone from the well and watered Rachel’s sheep. He kissed Rachel and told her who he was. Rachel ran to tell Laban.
Laban ran to greet Jacob and bring him into his home. After one month, Laban told Jacob that he should not work for him without pay. Jacob told him he would work seven years for Rachel to become his wife. Laban agreed, saying it was better for Jacob to have her than someone else.
At the end of the seven years, which seemed a very short time to him because he loved Rachel very much, Jacob came to Laban and asked for Rachel. Laban agreed and they had a big feast, but Laban fooled Jacob. He put a veil on his daughter, Leah, and gave her to Jacob. Jacob had married the wrong girl.
Jacob did not like this at all, and told Laban what he had done. Laban told him that in their country, the younger daughter never married before the older. He told Jacob to keep Leah, and for seven more years of work he would also give him Rachel. Jacob had to work fourteen years for the wife he wanted.
Jacob had done mean things in fooling his father, and now bad things were being done to him. This was not the last time that Laban fooled Jacob, and later on Jacob’s own sons fooled him. It is not right to do mean things. Mean things return to us sooner or later. The Bible calls it “reaping as we sow.”
Questions
1. Why was Jacob going to Laban?
2. What did Jacob see in a dream?
3. What kind of pillow did Jacob have that night?
4. Who came to the well while Jacob was there?
5. To whom did Rachel run to tell about Jacob?
6. How long did Jacob work without pay?
7. How many years did he agree to work for Rachel?
8. Whom did he get instead?
9. How much longer did he work for Rachel?
10. Does it pay to do mean things to others?
