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Changed in His Presence - Sam Hinn

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CHANGED IN HIS PRESENCE<br />

attractive. Leah had a weak eye which must<br />

have affected her appearance. Leah <strong>in</strong> Hebrew<br />

means "to make weary, to be disgusted."<br />

With his heart set on Rachel, Jacob served<br />

seven years, but they only seemed like a few<br />

days because of his love for her.<br />

Stop and th<strong>in</strong>k for a m<strong>in</strong>ute. There were no<br />

mach<strong>in</strong>es to lift and remove th<strong>in</strong>gs, no cokes, no<br />

air conditioned offices. Those were seven years of<br />

hard, manual labor. I am sure he couldn't wait<br />

for the day he would receive his wife. Imag<strong>in</strong>e<br />

seven years of wait<strong>in</strong>g for a bride, seven years of<br />

preparation and expectation.<br />

Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my<br />

wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go <strong>in</strong><br />

to her" (Gen. 29:21).<br />

Although Laban knew Jacob loved Rachel, he<br />

realized his older daughter Leah was still<br />

unmarried. Tradition demanded that she marry<br />

before Rachel. So he planned a deception. He<br />

called for all the men of the city to come and<br />

have a feast to honor Jacob, the groom. He made<br />

sure Jacob had enough to dr<strong>in</strong>k so he wouldn't<br />

notice the trick he was about to play on him.<br />

Now it came to pass <strong>in</strong> the even<strong>in</strong>g, that<br />

he [Laban] took Leah his daughter and<br />

brought her to Jacob; and he went <strong>in</strong> to her<br />

(Gen. 29:23).<br />

Here is Jacob who can't wait to marry his<br />

beautiful Rachel. He has given years of hard<br />

labor for this day. All he wanted from Laban was<br />

Rachel. But when he pulled the covers off the<br />

next morn<strong>in</strong>g, he was <strong>in</strong> for the shock of his life.<br />

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