Genesis 29:1-20

13th February 2011 Off By Derek Buckthorpe

Sermon References :

Genesis29v1t20

1: Jacob, continuing his journey, came up to the lad of the Eastern tribes.

2: There he saw a well in he open country with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because flocks were watered from that well. Over its mouth was a huge stone,

3: and all the herdsmen used to gather there and roll it off the mouth of the well and water the flocks; then they would replace the stone over the well.

4: Jacob said to them, “Where are you from my friends? “We are from Harran,” they replied.

5: He asked them if they knew Laban the grandson of Nahor. They answered, “Yes, they do.”

6: “Is he well?” Jacob asked; and they answered, “Yes he is well, and there is his daughter Rachel coming with the flock.”

7: Jacob said, “It is still broad daylight, and not yet time for penning the sheep. Water the flocks and then go and let them graze.”

8; But they replied, “We cannot until all the herdsmen have assembled and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well; then we can water our flocks.

9: While he was talking to them Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherdess.

10: Immediately Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, with Laban’s flock, he went forward, rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered Laban’s sheep.

11: He kissed Rachel and was moved to tears.

12: When he told her that he was her father’s kinsman, Rebecca’s son, she ran and told her father.

13: No sooner had Laban heard the news of his sister’s son, Jacob, than he hurried to meet him. Embraced and kissed him, and welcomed him to his home. Jacob told Laban all that had happened,

14: and Laban said, “Yes you are my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month,

15: Laban said, to him, “Why should you work for me for nothing simply because you are my kinsman? Tell me what wages you would settle for.”

16: Now Laban had two daughters: the elder was called Leah, and the younger Rachel.

17: Leah was dull-eyed but Rachel was beautiful in both face and figure, and

18: Jacob had fallen in love with her. He said, “For your younger daughter Rachel I would work for seven years.”

19: Laban replied, “It is better that I give her to you than anyone else, stay with me.”

20: When Jacob had worked for seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like a few days because he loved her.