A few weeks ago, I went on a "photo shoot" with two of my grandchildren. This picture was taken near the courthouse in Dade City. Why this picture? Because it says something about Southern culture, that is why. Notice all the trucks? Well, it seems to me that there are a lot more than I remember seeing in either New York or New Jersey. I am unsure as to what it means, but I am guessing its an expression of male dominance (but I could be wrong). It takes a long time to get acquainted with the nature and customs of any culture and sometimes there can be problems. This passage is the story of culture and perhaps more than that. Read on and decide for yourself.
Gen 29:12-27
(12) Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.
(13) It happened, when Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister's son, that he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
(14) Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. He lived with him for a month.
(15) Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?"
(16) Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
(17) Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
(18) Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."
(19) Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me."
(20) Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
(21) Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."
(22) Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
(23) It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her.
(24) Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
(25) It happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. He said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
(26) Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
(27) Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years."
Jacob was a trickster and by his trickery he had obtained the firstborn birthright and his father's blessing. So, its a little ironic that from the beginning Laban tricks him. (and who says God doesn't have a sense of humor) This story probably seems a little strange to most of us because of the father's control over his children and the practice of polygamy, but that what they did in the middle east in those days. The bottom line is that we need to try to understand others in the context of their culture before we pass judgment. Besides, its good to experience something new once in awhile and I do kind-of, sort-of like that red truck in the foreground. Humm, maybe if I buy a truck I might fit right in down here (or maybe it will just be another mid-life crisis raising its ugly head) More about this later.....
Gen 29:12-27
(12) Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father.
(13) It happened, when Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister's son, that he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things.
(14) Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. He lived with him for a month.
(15) Laban said to Jacob, "Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?"
(16) Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
(17) Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
(18) Jacob loved Rachel. He said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."
(19) Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me."
(20) Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
(21) Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."
(22) Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
(23) It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her.
(24) Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
(25) It happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. He said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
(26) Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.
(27) Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me yet seven other years."
Jacob was a trickster and by his trickery he had obtained the firstborn birthright and his father's blessing. So, its a little ironic that from the beginning Laban tricks him. (and who says God doesn't have a sense of humor) This story probably seems a little strange to most of us because of the father's control over his children and the practice of polygamy, but that what they did in the middle east in those days. The bottom line is that we need to try to understand others in the context of their culture before we pass judgment. Besides, its good to experience something new once in awhile and I do kind-of, sort-of like that red truck in the foreground. Humm, maybe if I buy a truck I might fit right in down here (or maybe it will just be another mid-life crisis raising its ugly head) More about this later.....