Counterfeit Gods: Part 3 - Love Is Not All You Need: Jacob’s Story

Hello All,

The poem I wrote for the third part of the 'Counterfeit Gods' series, ‘Love is Not All You Need’, is quite long so I am dividing it into two weeks.

We will be looking at Jacob’s story today and then Leah’s story next week.

Counterfeit Gods: Part 3 - Love Is Not All You Need: Jacob’s Story

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (9^th June 2013)

Jacob took flight to escape Esau's anger

For he had stolen the birthright of his brother

His mother urged him to flee to Uncle Laban

And stay with him until it was safe to return

Uncle Laban had two young unmarried daughters

Leah was the first child, Rachel was the younger

Jacob loved Rachel for her enthralling beauty

He took no notice of Leah, the unsightly

Laban requested Jacob to name his wages

For shepherding his vast flock of sheep and cattle

Jacob agreed on seven years of hard service

In eager exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage

So Jacob worked tirelessly for seven years

It seemed like a few days for someone he held dear

After those long seven years, Jacob demanded

Laban to give him the bride that he desired

However, Laban gave Jacob Leah instead

Jacob went into Leah on his wedding bed

He did not realize for she was heavily veiled

After too much drinking, his sobriety failed

The next day, he awoke to his greatest nightmare

His uncle's deception was more than he could bear

He demanded Laban for an explanation

To which Laban gave the excuse of tradition

The older child was to wed before the younger

So Laban promised Jacob his younger daughter

After the end of the wedding ceremony

And then another seven years of slavery

TO BE CONTINUED…

Points for Reflection:

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. (Genesis 29:20)

·         What would motivate you to give up seven years of wages? If your current monthly salary is MYR 3,000, the accumulated amount after seven years would be MYR 252,000. That is no trivial amount. Especially if your monthly salary exceeds MYR 3,000.

·         You could imagine how smitten Jacob was with Rachel to make that sacrifice.

·         It is not that I am against people displaying acts of sacrificial love for each other. But let us take a closer look at Jacob’s background.

·         After Jacob deceived his father, Isaac, to bless him with the birthright of the firstborn, the anger of his older brother, Esau was kindled against him. Jacob fled from Esau who sought to kill him. As he was on a long journey to his uncle’s place, God in his mercy appeared to assure Jacob of his promises. However, Jacob at that point of time did not know God well and was not committed to him. We are able to tell from the following verses:

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God (Genesis 28:20-21)

·         Jacob was making a bargain with God. In other words, he was saying: ‘I would only recognize you as my God if you would fulfill my needs.’ In Jacob’s time of uncertainty and fear, it was God who consoled and assured him.

·         With that in mind, do you think Jacob would be willing to forsake seven years of wages for God as he had done for Rachel?

·         Jacob should have loved God more than Rachel but it is obvious to see the person he was more devoted to.

·         Like Jacob, who are the people you idolize and love more than God? Do you know God personally or is he just someone you call out to when you need help or when you feel like it? Turn away from human idols and commit your life to our loving God.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” (Genesis 29:25)  

·         Human idolization always leads us down the spiral whirl of disappointments.

·         Even if you did get the person you wanted, it will always be like getting Leah at the end of the day. You will never be truly satisfied for all of humanity is sinful and unable to bear the burden of your divine expectations.

·         Have you ever felt the weight of devastation when you were unable to get the person you desired? What were the disappointments you felt each time your loved ones did not live up to your expectations?

·         Instead of investing all of your hopes and dreams in a fellow human being, why don’t you surrender the burden of your divine expectations to God who will never forsake you?

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)