Scoundrels Everywhere!
Perhaps I am just overly simplistic, but I like a storyline with a good, ol’-fashioned villain and a strong, noble hero. I want to root for someone. I want to take sides, and I want the good guys to win in the end. The plot can be complicated, convoluted, and even confusing; but for my taste, the best tales end with the villain beaten and the star victorious.
Unfortunately, I have all too often been sucked into a story before I realized that there are no heroes, there are no good guys, that all the characters in the plot are villains, or at least, people I don’t like or care about. For some reason, there seems to be a market for that kind of story—one where all the individuals in the plot are reprehensible, disagreeable, unlikeable.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I like my heroes to be a bit flawed. Superman, who always does everything right and wins, not only the war, but every skirmish, is not very exciting to me. I want the protagonist to be on the right side eventually, but slow to get there. I want to see a redemptive story, where evil is overcome and good triumphs, even in the personality of the main actor. A flawed lead character, but ultimately a good one.
Unfortunately, that’s not what we get when we come to the Jacob’s time in Haran with his uncle’s family (see Genesis 29-30). We’ve already discovered that Jacob is not much of a hero—indeed, his flaws dominate, even when blessed and chosen by God Himself. Jacob is the schemer, the “grabber,” the manipulator; there seems to be very little about Jacob that we can admire or even like. But, Jacob certainly meets his match when confronted by his uncle, Laban. Laban ends up cheating Jacob, deceiving him in a most unpleasant way—and appears to have no remorse, indeed, almost appears to revel in his dishonest victory. Not to be outdone, Jacob eventually turns the tables and outmaneuvers his uncle—not by relying on the Lord, but by being even more crafty than Laban.
So, if we can’t root for these two, perhaps we can root for the women in the story? Rachel appears like a worthy candidate—beautiful, desirable, and well-loved by Jacob. But her response to difficulty, her inability to have children, is, well…that’s just gross! Giving Jacob her servant-girl, so Jacob could sleep with her and have children via a surrogate. Certainly nothing to cheer for here. So, maybe Leah? Initially, she is a very sympathetic figure—overshadowed by her younger sister, used as a pawn in the deceit-game between Laban and Jacob, unloved by her husband. But, as children come for her, her bitterness and scorn for her barren sister appears to be her only feature. Leah shows little, if any, admirable qualities.
Who can we root for in this saga? Are we really left with one of those stories where we dislike everyone, where we don’t admire anyone or anything? Why are we reading this??
Of course, the real-life lessons are numerous: (1) perhaps we are all a bit more like these characters than we’d like to admit; (2) perhaps grace is best seen against such a backdrop of failure; (3) perhaps the warnings of multiplying sin should be understood; and (4) perhaps the Hero of the story is not Jacob, Laban, Leah, or Rachel…or me. Perhaps, the Hero of the story is the One who brings redemption exactly where it is needed most: to a group of scoundrels, anti-heroes, failures. Perhaps this story is all about the God who graciously knows us exactly as we are…yet has redeemed us by His grace anyways. Perhaps in Genesis 29-30 we see the Gospel of Jesus Christ working for you, working for me.
As you prepare for worship this Sunday, read Genesis 29 and 30.
1. Do you notice any parallels between Jacob’s experience at
the well trying to find a bride, and Abraham’s servant’s (Genesis 24)? Why do
you think Jacob went to the well? Is it too much to assume that he had heard of
the events of his mother’s engagement and sought to duplicate them?
2. From the very beginning, Laban comes across as a bit
shady. What evidence is there that Laban is not the model character we would
like him to be?
3. What do we learn of Leah in chapter 29? Why do we learn
so little? What do you think the author wants to communicate about her by his
description?
4. How can we describe the rivalry between Leah and Rachel?
Is there any sympathetic way of looking at it?
5. Why does it seem like the theme of barrenness is so
prevalent in the Scripture? If I were to say, it is because the Bible is
preparing you for Jesus’ miraculous birth, what would you think?
6. How does Jacob deceive and rob Laban with his flocks?
What’s with all the stuff about poplar and almond sticks, watering holes, etc.?
7. OK, big question: Where is God in all of this? Why does
He not make a bigger appearance in the text? Are we to understand that God
supports all that has happened? Or, that He doesn’t care? Or, that He was
absent? If not, then what?
