If you are keeping in touch with the “Heart of the Staff” posts, these are now being done monthly. I will be picking back up with this series from the December 2021 post. This part of the series may seem a longer read each time due to posts only being shared once a month on a rotating basis by staff.
Isaac and Rebekah form a good picture of the Church. Isaac was the obedient son to the earthly father as Jesus was the obedient son of the Heavenly Father even unto death. The Father has sent his faithful servants to tell the world of the Son, Jesus Christ, who has received everything at the Father’s hand, and is the coming bridegroom to receive His Church, the bride. Individuals believe the message of His servants, and the sign given unto men, they decide to accept the invitation and follow after to meet the bridegroom whom they have never met til they come into His presence. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and, him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. What the Father gives, He receives, loves, and keeps.
Jacob Makes a Choice, or is it Love at First Sight? Read Genesis Chapter 29. Unlike Isaac his father, Jacob makes his own choice in a wife. Jacob is sent from his father’s home by his mother Rebekah, because of the anger of Esau his brother. Rebekah and Jacob had deceived Isaac, Jacob’s father, and Jacob had received the blessing which normally would have gone to Esau. This caused Jacob to flee for his life, and Rebekah sent him back to her home.
Jacob met Rachel at the watering place for animals, because Rachel kept the sheep of her father. He rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and personally drew water for the herd. A labor of love from the beginning. Jacob revealed himself as Rachel’s fathers brother and was brought to Laban’s house for a month. At the end of the month, Laban offered Jacob wages for his work and allowed Jacob to set his price. At this time Jacob offered seven years of labor for Rachel to be his wife.
The number seven represented the perfect and full number to them just as seven days showed a full week, seven years represented the full amount of a sincere offer. Possibly Jacob could have bargained with one year of service, but because of his love for her, he dared not offer anything less than the full amount of a complete service offer. He made his own offer and set his own price. “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” Genesis 29:20
At the end of this seven year period, Jacob finds disappointment. He has labored seven years of his wife and is ready to take her, but because of the customs of that day and land, he received Leah, Rachel’s older sister. When this deceit was known by Jacob he asked why, but found that Rachel’s father was demanding another seven years service for Rachel. Jacob could have taken his one wife and left feeling that another seven year period of service was too much to pay, but the love of his life would not allow this. He had loved at first sight, but loved truly, and he would pay the double price if necessary.
Love for the bride in this home was given, not asked for by the bride, but the whole being of Jacob reached out for Rachel so that he purchased her through a double service of love.
There is nothing wrong with love at first sight, but there is everything wrong with untrue affection at first sight. Jacob’s love was tested through the years of service, and it remained true. Love that is not tested may prove to be mere affection later. Love that is true love will bear the waiting period of testing before the seal of marriage is given that it may be proved.
Encourage One Another,
Bro. Jim Graham
