“Jacob Arrives in Haran”

Genesis 29:1-11

 

Last week Jacob experienced an amazing dream. He was given a glimpse into the portal of Heaven. The details provided in that story will come up again as we continue with Jacob and his journey. Jacob hadn’t traveled very far before having his dream but in just a few sentences he has managed to cross hundreds of miles and is now halfway to Babylon, in the town of Haran, where all of his extended family lives. 

 

Before we go on, it’s significant to recognize that we are currently in the center of the second part of Jacob’s narrative. Which means, we are in the center of the center of the story. When we recognize the symmetrical shaping of the story line, even though every part is significant in its order it is important to understand how the parts match and how they are compared. 

Usually the center of the centers has extra weight. For example, in the center of the center of this story we will have the birth of the 12 tribes. The birth of these characters provides the names of the characters for the rest of the Hebrew Bible. As we proceed, we will ponder the circumstances of their births. But for now let’s look at the structure of the center section. The center section has three parts and each of these parts has three parts. Here is a synopsis of what we will be reading about: 

 

Part 1: Chapter 29:1-30 

> Jacob arrives in Haran

> Jacob meets Rachel, by a well

> Rachel is the Hebrew word for “lamb”

> Jacob meets “lamb” by a well and wants to marry her

> Jacob is introduced to his uncle Laban 

> Laban agrees to the marriage and arranges a deal

> Jacob fulfills the deal but Laban deceives Jacob by switching Rachel for her sister Leah, whose name in Hebrew means “calf.” 

 

Part 2: In the middle, of the middle, of the middle

> Jacob and Laban are rivals

> We have rival sisters

> Because of the rivalry of the men, jealousy and rivalry occurs between the sisters

> The rivalry of the sisters leads to the birth of all the sons

> This means the sons are born out of jealousy and rivalry

> Attention returns to Jacob and Laban

> Laban thinks he is going to trick Jacob out of a whole lot of money, or flocks, but Jacob manages a counter deception

> Jacob tricks his uncle out of his lambs and calves

 

“Lambs” and “calves”? Get the connection. The rivalry between the sisters is at the center. Their rivalry comes about because of the rivalry between these two men who essentially wheel and deal and trade these daughters back and forth, like their animals, like lambs and calves. 

 

The deception of the daughters is an analogy with the animals. We are given that through the meaning of the names of each daughter being animals. What we have is a description of what has been happening throughout time, men treating women like animals. It’s significant for us to recognize the critique against both Laban and Jacob. The reason Rachel and Leah were in this sad situation was because of the selfishness of the men around them. This is an element of the story that is meant to bother us. 

 

Deep down, all of this deception stems from one thing, a desire to gain more wealth. It’s all about money. 

Not much new under the Sun. 

 

Jacob has been deceiving all of his life to gain blessings. Laban recognizes immediately that Yahweh was blessing Jacob so he works his deceptions in order to get a piece of the pie. They are two peas in a pod. 

 

If we take a wider view, they were both trying to scheme their way back into Eden. 

 

In the meantime, we have this story of women being mistreated in the Bible, what are we supposed to do with it? How many women read these stories and think? 

“The Bible tells stories where women are subordinate, not treated equally, in fact, being treated like animals. What kind of God allows this?”

To start off, we need to remember, the events in these stories are about real people, doing real things, and there is not a perfect one of them in the bunch. They all exist, out of Eden, and therefore have the potential to act outside of God’s design and plan. Just because a character behaves a certain way in the Bible doesn’t mean that the author is saying, “Here’s a great way to be a human being.” In fact, a lot of times, it’s exactly the opposite. We are reading about human beings and how human nature displays itself. When it comes right down to it, the Bible is more like a tragedy. We have stories of struggling human beings, dysfunctional human families, and honest portraits of human nature. We are, however, encouraged to hold up such narratives to the Genesis 1 ideal of male and female ruling, and it’s important to note that the verb used “to rule” in Genesis 1 is plural, kings and queens, ruling together, in unity, where the two become one. 

And when we do hold up the standard of Genesis 1, we should recognize just how far from that standard this story is and if we can relate to the story, just how far we exist from the standard. Unfortunately, for centuries, humans have not been comparing the stories with Genesis 1, instead they have been imposing their cultural assumptions onto the Bible. 

 

The truth is, this story is one of the most painful portraits about positions that women can find themselves in because of the decisions of ignorant, selfish, abusive men. 

 

In addition to the Genesis 1 view on how women should be treated, we should look at how Jesus treated women. Imagine processing this story with Jesus. Jesus certainly did not treat the women in His circle of disciples like this. 

 

As we read through Scripture I think it is imperative that when controversial issues arise that we stop and talk about them, discuss them and remember what God seeks for our lives. 

 

Now back to Jacob. He has been exiled and he was off to the East, which is the direction one goes when exiled. As he wanders through the wilderness, lo and behold, what does come upon… a well! 

 

At this particular well, Jacob notices three flocks of sheep lying near it, because the well is where they will get watered. Jacob also notices a large stone over the mouth of the well. We are told there was a particular procedure the shepherds followed in Haran. When all the flocks were gathered there, then the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. 

When done, they would return the stone over the mouth of the well. A lot of detail provided here that we need to keep in mind, as it will be significant later in the story. 

Jacob walked up to the shepherds and began an argument. Jacob’s first question was interesting, 

“My brothers, where are you from?”

Now maybe Jacob had no idea where he was, yet if that was so, why didn’t he ask, “My brothers, what place is this?”

It seems to me that if there were some shepherds hanging out at a well with their sheep, that they were more than likely from there. In fact, that is their response.

“We’re from Haran,” they replied.

At least now Jacob knows he has made it to his destination. So he asks, 

“Do you know Laban, Nahor’s grandson?”

Okay, this conversation sounds like a Bert and I episode. No chit chat, just answers to the questions.

“Ayuh, we know him,” they answered.

 Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?”

“Ayuh, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

A bit of Hebrew humor is missed here in the English translation. Remember, the name Rachel is the Hebrew word for “lamb” and the way in which the Hebrew word for “was coming” is pronounced is, “ba’ah. The Lamb was ba’ah-ing as it came. 

Then here is where Jacob starts telling the shepherds what they should do.

“Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”

Okay, can you see some hair on the back of necks rising? Who is the new guy, telling these shepherds what to do? 

 “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”

While they were talking, Rachel arrived with her father’s sheep, as she was a shepherd. At this point, Jacob goes rogue. He takes it upon himself to roll the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. He then kisses Rachel and starts crying out loud.  

What on earth? Were these tears of joy? The lone chosen one, who has been wandering in the wilderness, discovers a surprise source of water and at the same time happens to discover his wife? We have been here before. Do you think Jacob’s mother told him how she met his father? Here we are again, like Abraham’s servant going to a well. Just so happens it’s the same spot. 

Also recognize, there is water, a wife, at the source of Eden… we are to be reminded of Genesis 2. Remember, Jacob just came from dreaming of an Eden spot, where Heaven and Earth were the same place. He travels a long way, geographically, but in the narrative, it’s the next sentence where he is at a water spot with animals lying peacefully, drinking.  Wait until next week, we will have Genesis 2 language all over the place. 

Why does the narrator put so much attention on the conversation with Jacob and the shepherds? What was so important about the argument over the timing of removing the stone? It’s called character development. He walks onto the scene like he’s in charge, asks some questions, and when he sees an opportunity to get the girl, it didn’t matter what other people thought, he had a plan and he did it. 

As a side note, we are going to meet these shepherds again. They actually attend Jacob’s and Rachel’s wedding. This interaction is going to come back to haunt Jacob. 

This is an excellent example of when you are reading through the Bible and come across a story that makes you wonder why it’s there and it seems weird. It’s worth remembering to see where it shows up later on. 

For now, Jacob has not made a good impression with the men of the place. We have “Heel grabber” meeting “Lamb” and he falls in love. In fact, she will hold a special place in his heart until the day she dies. Which, of course, is going to cause problems for both of them, and sadly for everyone else around them as well. Which demonstrates how favoritism works throughout this narrative. 

Check in time. 

 

As we read through Scripture we are provided with narratives of real people acting like real humans act regardless of place and time. Rather than pulling the stories out of context and claiming them to be gospel truth and how we should behave today, it is more important to keep them in their context and compare them to God’s Eden plan, God’s heavenly goal, to God’s example of Jesus, who actually lived on Earth, as a human, perfectly, through every situation we could find ourselves in. What is amazing to me is that as we read these narratives, the characters in the stories are so relatable. There are times when I see myself and have to ask myself, would I have done the same thing? Or should that character have done something different? What would God have wanted them, or me to do? Or more profound,
“What would Jesus do?”

Let’s pray.