Jacob had established a place of worship and pledged a 1/10 of his wealth to God.

His brother Esau had married a daughter of his 1/2 uncle Ishmael.

Jacob goes to Laban and meets Laban’s daughter Rachel. He seems to be smitten by Rachel and kisses her.

Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. [2] He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well. [3] It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. [4] Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?” “We are from Haran,” they answered. [5] “Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked. “Yes, we do,” they replied. [6] “Is he doing well?” Jacob asked. “Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.” —Genesis 29:1-6 NLT

Jacob is about the meet the woman he will be devoted to for life.

“We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.” [9] Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. [10] And because Rachel was his cousin-the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother-and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock. —Genesis 29:8-10 NLT

Is God guiding Jacob to his new bride?

How has God guided you?

Jacob makes a commitment for the woman he loves

Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. [12] He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side-the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban. [13] As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, [14] Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!” After Jacob had stayed with Laban for about a month, [15] Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.” [16] Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. [17] There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. [18] Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.” —Genesis 29:11-18 NLT

Here’s where it gets Romantic:

“Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” [20] So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days. —Genesis 29:19-20 NLT

Laban’s deceit:

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed, that I may go in to her.” [22] Laban gathered all the men of the place and made a feast. [23] Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to him; and Jacob went in to her. [24] Laban also gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid. [25] So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah! And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” —Genesis 29:21-25 NASB

“It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. [27] “But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too-provided you promise to work another seven years for me.” —Genesis 29:26-27 NLT

Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. [29] Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid. [30] So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and indeed he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. —Genesis 29:28-30 NASB

Jacob’s love is a demonstration of his commitment to Rachel and He will show his love by sticking with his commitments.

God is going to make Jacob fulfill his duty to his wives…

Even though it was not what Jacob wanted God was going to fulfill his promise of many children.

When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. [32] So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.” [33] She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, “The LORD heard that I was unloved and has given me another son.” [34] Then she became pregnant a third time and gave birth to another son. He was named Levi, for she said, “Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me, since I have given him three sons!” [35] Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the LORD!” And then she stopped having children. —Genesis 29:31-35 NLT

Rueben “look a son”

Simeon “one who hears”

Levi “being attached or feeling affection for”

Judah “praise”

These sons will become leaders of the tribes of Israel; God will change Jacob’s name to Israel.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, [27] and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. [28] In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church- [30] for we are members of his body. [31] “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” [32] This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church.
—Ephesians 5:25-32 NIV

As Christian Husbands our first Ministry is to love our wives as Christ loved the church and was willing to sacrifice himself for it… in so doing we demonstrate God’s love to others.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. [6] I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. —Psalm 13:5-6 NIV

Faith is trusting in God’s love; as a wife should trust the love of her Husband so we should trust in the love of the father…

Husbands, does your love for your wife and family reflect that of Christ, if not you are not doing it right?…Amen or ouch.

Rachel’s story is marked by love, struggle, and ultimately, tragedy, but her legacy endures through her sons, especially Joseph, who becomes a savior figure for his family during a time of famine.

God’s
Love
Fills
Us

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. —Ephesians 3:19 KJV