The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
July 27, 2008
Vol. 11 no. 29

Everything But...
           I remember hearing this story about Jacob, his uncle Laban and beautiful daughter Rachel and older daughter Leah, when I was in Sunday School in the early elementary grades. One didn’t shy away from telling these earthy tales to children back then, though a few details were intentionally never made clear. I will let you imagine which details.
           What struck me was the seven years of indentured labour Jacob had to fulfill for the hand of his beloved Rachel. Actually, indentured labor was a way for people in a non-currency society to make a start of things. The problem often was how easily the owner would let go of his free labourer when the bargained time was fulfilled. Seven years to me as a young boy was an inconceivable amount of time to wait. That for Jacob it seemed like a few days was not the way I understood time then.
           There was no wedding, which seemed strange too, but the trickery of Laban was just outrageous. Poor Leah; it wasn’t her fault. Was it a bargain to work seven years more - 14 in total - for Rachel? Yes, the two wife arrangement was a challenge then, but this was the Bible so it was some kind of exception.
           In the end it all worked out for the best and Jacob and Rachel even were able to hoodwink her father out of some golden hardware. Served him right - if that’s the proper Biblical attitude to have. Definitely it was time for Jacob to return home, but he would find out Esau hadn’t forgotten.
           The question: is meeting and courting your sweetheart a religious experience? For some the heavens opened up, and a special light shone down and God pointed! But when we do meet other kinds of people, is God involved like this?