Genesis 29: 4-12…..Family contacts.

Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”
While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

Comment: The author of this portion of the Bible is only sketching in the important details of the story. How closely did Jacob think that he was to his old family relatives when he began talking to those around the well? When he said ‘brothers’ was that like (respectfully, of course) ‘you guys’ or did it infer a familial closeness? When Rebekah arrived was he more interested in the looks of the young shepherdess or the number of the sheep? He had already in his mind verified from his conversation that she was a relative. What right did he have to kiss her, and why was he crying his eyes out? Was he just glad to have arrived or did he already like the girl and fancy that he had found the one? It seems as if after the kissing and crying he explained himself and she ran off to tell her father about this stranger who had arrived.

Prayer: Help me when I meet people from a different culture to respect their culture, Lord.