NOTES for Gen 29:1-35
By what strange paths the formation of God's people proceeded. Here Jacob chooses a wife, serves seven years for her, and through deception receives the older sister, whom no one had taken in marriage; so her father decided to foist her on his compliant son-in-law. It is no wonder one could be mistaken if the bride's face was hidden under a veil. Lies and deception continually stand in the way of God's blessing. Sin is what God is forced to deal with constantly when the salvation of a person and of humanity is at stake. Leah, who became Jacob's wife by deception, unloved but faithful, bears him sons. And in an astonishing way, not beloved Rachel, but unloved Leah will become the mother of Judah, from whose tribe God will give the world the Savior.