Hallmark Movie: Jacob and His Sister Wives

Have you ever watched a Hallmark movie? I found the perfect one in Genesis 29.

Jacob traveled far and wide in search of a Christmas tree farm where he would help chop down trees for the holiday season. Rachel, who had a “lovely figure and was beautiful,” (Gen. 29:17) was dressed in a white coat with tall brown boots. Dad, also known as Laban, hopped out of the truck to search for Rachel, wondering why she was taking so long at the tree farm. 

Laban located Rachel and discovered that Jacob was his nephew. They all drove to Laban’s log cabin to make a big batch of gingerbread cookies. Rachel and Jacob locked eyes while sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace. Suddenly, another girl entered the scene. This girl had long blonde hair and “delicate eyes” (Gen. 29:17). She was not just any girl. She was Rachel’s older sister.

Jacob would work at Laban’s, the land outside Laban's log cabin, chopping firewood, shepherding the sheep, and running errands while driving a 1935 Ford Model 50 and wearing a plaid shirt. Everything was peachy until Laban asked what Jacob wanted in exchange for working the land. 

Jacob made his love for Rachel known by telling Laban, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter” (Gen. 29:18).

But trouble was brewing! Laban gave his oldest daughter, Leah, to Jacob to take as his wife instead of Rachel. To acquire his first love, Rachel, as his wife, Jacob would have to stay with Laban and work another seven years (Gen. 29:21-27). 

Can you imagine how unloved Leah must have felt? Here, she was handed off almost like property to a man who loved her sister more than her. 

Have you ever been overlooked because someone else was smarter, prettier, or talked a big game? Thankfully when we feel unloved by this world, we serve a God whose love for us never changes. 

Remember how Sarai’s maidservant referred to God as “[T]he God who sees me” (Gen. 16:19)? 

God saw the pain of His children in the Old Testament the same way He sees our pain today.

David said in Psalm 86:15, “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Look at how His love for Leah prevailed.

Genesis 29:31 says, “When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb.”  She would give birth to four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. If those names sound familiar, they should. Between Leah and Rachel, the sister wives, they would birth the twelve tribes of Israel.

My friend, maybe God has a plan greater for you than ever imagined. Can you hand your feelings of worthlessness over to Jesus and let Him love you? Will you allow Him to fill your heart with His great love and stop relying on others to fill this void for you? Can you let go of negative relationships that are sucking the life out of you and pulling you further away from Christ? 

Dump the abuser for the Almighty. This week, become victorious through Christ's love.

Join my LIVE online Ladies Bible Study group each Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. CST as we learn how God can break our chains of brokenness and sculpt our lives into something beautiful.