Going to Bed with Rachel, Waking up with Leah

No, I'm not the biggest covenant breaking player at Wheaton College.

~Rather the following, from Tim Keller's sermon, "The Struggle for Love."

Genesis 29:16-25 "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. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?'"


A very relevant look into Jacob's heart, gripped by idolatry. 3 things-

1) Our hearts have an impulsive inclination to serve idols- "Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, 'I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.' 

This process is not slow by any means. Rachel was beautiful. Jacob must have her. Jacob will go to any length to get her. Immediately Jacob's heart was enticed.

2) We serve our idols and ignore the gargantuan warning signs slapping us in the face- "'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.'"


In the midst of a clear deal offered by Jacob- seven years of service for Rachel- Laban's answer was not "Yes, it is a deal. 7 years of work, and you get Rachel." Instead its vague. He does not say yes, but Jacob's idolatrous heart heard yes. Idolatry blinds us.

3) Idols will always let us down- "And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?'" 


When our hearts wake up in the morning after a stint of idolatry, it will always be Leah. In all of life, through every aspect, there will always be a foundation of cosmic disappointment. You will not lead a wise life until you know that.

CS Lewis captures Keller's point:

"Most people, if they have really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking of the best possible ones. There was something we have grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I think everyone knows what i mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us."


Anything we put in place of God - anything we look to for the satisfaction, joy, and peace that only God can provide - our "Rachels" - will ultimately dash us... a relationship, kids, our career, morality, education, performance, sex, power, fame, friends, sports, social status, or the number of hits on your blog website...all of these will destroy us if put in place of God


Praise be to Jesus for truly being the one my soul longs for and surely satisfying all of my longings. For rescuing me from my idols. For being the object that will never evade me. For justifying me. For being my peace, satisfaction, and joy.