Changed in His Presence - Sam Hinn
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
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 />
84