Hi,

You could have thought you’re at the movies!

Jacob meets Rachel. (Genesis, 29:9-20)

He’s at the well talking to the shepherds.

And Rachel arrives with her father’s sheep.

What does Jacob do?

He kisses Rachel.

It sounds right out of Hollywood!

Jacob was really swept off his feet!

Then he offers to work seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage.

And it gets really romantic!

“Jacob worked seven years for Rachel.

But it seemed like a few days because of his love for her!” ( 29:20)

Seems like perfect movie material.

… Until we stop to think.

It seemed like a few days because of Jacob’s love for Rachel?

Does that make sense?

When we look forward to someone that we love, does time fly by?

No.

It feels like an eternity!

And it gets worse!

What does Jacob do while kissing Rachel?

He raises his voice and cries! (29:11)

Very strange for a first romantic kiss!

And then there’s the most shocking of all.

Jacob loves Rachel and offers to work seven years for her.

Did you ever hear of a Jew doing business like that?

Why would Jacob go and offer seven years?

He should have started with a few weeks.  Rachel’s Dad may have said seven years.

And Jacob would have said, “I won’t be a stickler.

How about six months!”

Where was the bargaining?

… I want to share one approach.

But it won’t fit into what’s left of my minute!

It’s less romantic.  But more meaningful.

We’re not talking love like in Hollywood.

Which is usually something else.

Infatuation!

Its love based on something else.

… We’ll have to continue tomorrow!

But here’s a question.  I’d love to hear from you.

Do you see an indication in the text that Jacob’s kiss was not what it sounds like at first?

It’s somewhere in the first ten verses of Chapter 29 in Genesis!

All the best,