Jacob's Eventual Victory Over His Wives' Witchcraft's
Posted September 12, 2006
Jacob's Ladder
Genesis 28:10-17 says, "And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. v.10
And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. v.11
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. v.12
And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; v.13
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. v.14
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. v.15
God is speaking to Jacob in a dream declaring the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and all of his blessings for the families of the earth. In verse 15, he promises Jacob to keep him wherever he goes and bring him again to the land of Israel and he would not leave Jacob until I have done that which he had spoken.
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. v.16
And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." v.17
Jacob and Rachel
In Genesis 29:1, we notice that Jacob went on his journey into the land of the people of the east. He arrived at the well where he watered their sheep. There he asked if they knew Laban the son of Nahor. They said, We know him, and they said behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
In Genesis 29:9-30 it says, "And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. v.9
And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. v.10
And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. v.11
And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. v.12
And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. v.13
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. v.14
And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? v.15
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. v.16
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. v.17
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. v.18
And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. v.19
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. v.20
And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. v.21
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. v.22
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. v.23
And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. v.24
And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? v.25
And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. v.26
Laban knew the custom of his country when he offered Rachel to Jacob, and he held to that custom when the time came for Rachel to be given to him. Laban in his deceit required Jacob to serve him an additional seven years for Rachel, and Jacob agreed to do so. Verse 30 tells us that Jacob did serve him seven more years.
Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. v.27
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. v.28
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. v.29
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years." v.30
The remaining verses of Genesis 29 and Genesis 30 tell us of the birth of Jacob's children and the deceitful dealings of his father in law, Laban.
Genesis 30:25-27 says, "And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. v.25
Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee. v.26
And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake." v.27
We see in verses 26 and 27 that Laban was not willing to let Jacob go even after he fulfilled his service, because of the blessings that came upon Laban by the presence of Jacob. We can clearly see here that the love of money is the root of all evil (I Timothy 6:10).
The Lord Spoke to Jacob
In Genesis 31:3-7 it says, "And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. v.3
The Lord spoke to Jacob and told him to go.
And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, v.4
And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. v.5
And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. v.6
And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me." v.7
Even after God told Jacob to leave, Laban pursued him. God intervened and spoke to Laban in Genesis 31:29, "...Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad." v.29
In summary, we see what Rachel and Leah were involved in. They had a father that was a deceiver, involved in witchcraft, who manipulated Jacob because of his fears. Jacob eventually went on his journey with his wives.
God bless you,
Doyle Davidson
