Genesis 29: 13-22…..Waiting, waiting, waiting!

As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.
Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.

Comment: I started going out with my wife when I was 16 and married her when I was nearly 24. I was young and studying, Jacob was much older. I was studying and a teenager, he was much older and working for another. It must have been hard even though he had a bright love light shining in his life. We are not told all the details but we know that Jacob was not a poor man. He lived with and off Laban, but very reasonably after a month or so Laban needed some clarification of Jacob’s plans. So it came out, Jacob wanted Rebekah, for which Laban voiced the bride price – seven years of labour, before, not after, the wedding. Like me, Laban got on with living and waiting. But Jacob was counting days and at seven years requested the promised bride.

Prayer: Help me when patience is necessary to be patient, but not slothful of evasive oof my duties.