People will treat you according to their estimation of you and your character. God brings Jacob to a man with the same character flaws.

2. Genesis 29:15–30
15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are
my relative, should you therefore serve me for
nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”
16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of
the older was Leah, and the name of the
younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah’s eyes were
weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and
face. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I
will serve you seven years for your younger
daughter Rachel.”

3. 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you
than to give her to another man; stay with
me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel
and they seemed to him but a few days
because of his love for her. 21 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.

4. 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?” 26 But Laban said, “It
is not the practice in our place to marry off
the younger before the firstborn. 27 “Complete
the week of this one, and we will give you the
other also for the service which you shall
serve with me for another seven years.” 28
Jacob did so and completed her week, and he
gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.

5. 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.

6. Not an endorsement of polygamy
The first polygamist, Lamech, calls a family conference so he can boast about
his inordinate vengeful violence. He’s clearly not a nice man (Gen 4:19-24).
Jacob has two wives and two concubines, a situation which creates family
heartbreak, envy and, ultimately, attempted murder (Gen 29-37).
Gideon has many wives and many sons (Judges 8:30). This results in civil war
and wholesale slaughter in Israel (Judges 9).
David has a seemingly insatiable appetite for women. He has many wives (2
Sam 5:13), and in the end steals another man’s wife and murders him (2
Sam 11-12). The resulting, big family was not a happy one: they ended up
committing incestuous rape (2 Sam 13) and rebellion which almost
destroyed David’s kingdom (2 Sam 14ff).
Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. They led his heart away from
the Lord, and led to the break-up of his kingdom (1 Kings 11:3-4).
1. Lamech first
polygamist
2. Jacob has two
wives and two
concubines
3. Gideon has many
wives and many
sons
4. David had many
wives
5. Solomon had
over 1,000 wives

7. Not an endorsement of polygamy
The Bible begins with an explicit affirmation that
marriage is between one man and one woman
(Gen 1-2), an affirmation which is later confirmed
by Jesus himself (Matt 19:4-6). There are,
furthermore, laws limiting some of the worst
effects of polygamy (Deut 21:15-17). And then, in
the New Testament, Paul’s command to Timothy
that church leaders must be, alongside exemplars
of other moral virtues, “the husband of one wife”
(1 Tim 3:2, 12; cf. 1 Tim 5:9) implies that
polygamy is not a desirable thing.
One man one
woman
Jesus
reaffirmed
Paul
instructed
Timothy
concerning
Church leaders

8. Spilled his guts
So when Laban heard the news of Jacob his
sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and
embraced him and kissed him and brought
him to his house. Then he related to Laban all
these things.
Genesis 29:13

9. Getting caught up
Family affairs
Birthright
Blessings
Dream
People will treat you
according to their
estimation of you
and your character.

10. Laban
Laban “White”, Son of Bethuel and brother of
Rebekah.
Received Eliezer the servant of Abraham
Received Jacob into his house
Takes advantage of Jacob
Changes agreements
Cheats & steals
Over steps authority

11. Hires a new hand
“Because you are my relative, should you
therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what
shall your wages be?”

12. Jacob’s choice
Leah
Older
Weary
Weak eyes-bashful
Rachel
Younger
Ewe lamb
Beautiful-Good figure
pretty face
Loved

13. Seven year itch
“I will serve you seven years for your younger
daughter Rachel.”
Labor of love

14. Wedding
party
1. Festival-mistel
meaning to drink
2. Father presents
the bride
3. Gives a dowry
4. Consummation
5. Wedding week

15. Deception discovered
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?”

16. New bargain
• We have a tradition
• Complete the
ceremony
• Give you this one
• Work seven more
years

17. A deal is a deal
Jacob did so and completed her week, and he
gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his
daughter Rachel as her maid.

18. Actions have consequences
Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite
evident, and those which are otherwise
cannot be concealed.
1 Timothy 5:25
He who walks in integrity walks securely, But
he who perverts his ways will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9

19. Straight deal
For if you truly amend your ways and your
deeds, if you truly practice justice between a
man and his neighbor,…then I will let you
dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to
your fathers forever and ever.
Jeremiah 7:5;6

20. Golden Rule is for business
In everything, therefore, treat people the
same way you want them to treat you, for this
is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12

21. Be honorable in all things
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a
good conscience, desiring to conduct
ourselves honorably in all things.
Hebrews 13:18

22. Actions speak louder than words
Keep your behavior excellent among the
Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they
slander you as evildoers, they may because of
your good deeds, as they observe them,
glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:12