One Groom, Two Brides

Sunday, January 3, 2016
Genesis 29:15-30 KJV 

15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou [art] my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what [shall] thy wages [be]? 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder [was] Leah, and the name of the younger [was] Rachel. 17 Leah [was] tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, [It is] better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him [but] a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give [me] my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it [was] Leah: and he said to Laban, What [is] this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did Laban ask Jacob and what did he have to offer him? (v.15-17)
2) What did Jacob ask Laban for as payment for serving him? Why? (v.18)
3) How did Laban respond and what did Jacob do, as a result? (v.19-20)
4) After serving him for seven years, what did Jacob ask Laban for and what did Laban do in response? (v.21-24)
5) What did Jacob ask the morning after Laban gave his daughter to be his wife and what was Laban's response? (v.25-27)
6) What did Jacob do to be married to Laban's second daughter? Why? (v.28-30)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Have you ever been deceived by someone that you trusted to fulfill their promise(s) to you? If so, briefly describe one such time (i.e., what happened).

LIFE LESSONS
8) The Lord will allow His people to go through trying situations so that His will for our lives will be manifested.