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Growth Leah And Rachel—Law And Grace

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DWJL511

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Jacob's two wives, Leah and Rachel, and how he came to marry them, typifies our marriages to the covenants of law and grace.

Genesis 29:20–30
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her…So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?” And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.” Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also…Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.​

Jacob had to work seven years for Rachel whom he loved. At the end of the seven years, after consummating the marriage, he was shocked to find out that he had slept with Leah instead. Laban had secretly given Jacob his older daughter, Leah.

Jacob wasn’t too happy, of course. Laban explained to him that it was not customary to give the younger daughter away for marriage before the firstborn had been given. He then told Jacob to finish the week with Leah, and he would give Rachel as a wife to him too, on condition that Jacob serve him another seven years. So Jacob finished the week with Leah and married Rachel, and worked for Laban another seven years.


The Covenants Of Law And Grace Revealed

Leah had weak eyes and was not pretty. Her name means “weary.” She represents the law, for when you are under the heavy yoke of the law, you become weary and weak. Rachel, on the other hand, was beautiful to behold. Her name means “ewe” or “female sheep.” She represents grace, personified by our Lord Jesus, who is the Lamb of God.

Under the law, works come first before the blessing—Jacob worked seven years before he got Leah. (He didn’t get Rachel, because you can’t work for grace.) Under grace, works follow the blessing—Jacob received the blessing of Rachel first, and then worked another seven years for Laban. In other words, under the law, you have to work for the blessings. Under grace, you receive the blessings first, and that in turn empowers you to produce good works. This is working out of rest. This is real faith that produces good works.

Also, when you work for a blessing, when by your self-efforts you try to earn a blessing, you will probably end up with something that you don’t quite like, that is of inferior quality. But when you simply receive a blessing by the grace of God, it is truly a blessing in every way.


The Law Came First

Leah, the firstborn, had to be given first because the law came first. Israel had the law for 1,500 years before grace (Jesus) came. The Bible says that the law was (first) given through Moses, but grace and truth came (later) through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
 
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I wonder if Rachael isn't a picture of Israel, and Leah a picture of the gentiles. Jacob is the Christ who had to settle for us homely gentiles while he waits for Israel to be his wife even though 'she' was actually by all rights the first one in line to be married. :shrug
 
Hmm....I see Israel more as the chosen nation that God has always and still loves, and is coming back for. So Rachael as a type of Israel doesn't really do it for me.
 
"...it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16 NASB)

I see Israel more as the chosen nation that God has always and still loves, and is coming back for.
And in the meantime he has us homely gentiles.
 
I find it interesting that while Jacob favored Rachel, God showed favor on Leah (Genesis 29:31). If I were writing the story, I would have God favor Jacob and Rachel because Jacob was cheated. But I guess God doesn't think the way I do. :thinking
 
Hmm....I see Israel more as the chosen nation that God has always and still loves, and is coming back for. So Rachael as a type of Israel doesn't really do it for me.
Racheal. the mother of joseph and Benjamin.
joseph, symbolic of the suffering serveant.
moshaic ben Yosef(if I spelled that right). jesus came as that type.
ben David is to come.
 
I find it interesting that while Jacob favored Rachel, God showed favor on Leah (Genesis 29:31). If I were writing the story, I would have God favor Jacob and Rachel because Jacob was cheated. But I guess God doesn't think the way I do. :thinking

Yeah, kinda like how He helped Hagar and Ishmael when they were cast out, thirsting and dying. God is good!
 
I find it interesting that while Jacob favored Rachel, God showed favor on Leah (Genesis 29:31).
I'm still seeing the Jews and the gentiles in this. The Jews despise the gentiles. God shows his grace to the gentiles (Leah) while the Jews (Rachel) remain barren.
 
I see aspects of corporate Israel reflected in all Jacob's wives, concubines(handmaids), and children. However, I don't think we can divide Leah and Rachel into Law and Grace because Jacob had to work for each of them. Neither wife was a free gift, yet both handmaids were gifts.:chin Rachael was also secretly idolatrous (Gen 31).
 
So there's no works under grace? That's why I said:

Under the law, works come first before the blessing—Jacob worked seven years before he got Leah. (He didn’t get Rachel, because you can’t work for grace.) Under grace, works follow the blessing—Jacob received the blessing of Rachel first, and then worked another seven years for Laban. In other words, under the law, you have to work for the blessings. Under grace, you receive the blessings first, and that in turn empowers you to produce good works. This is working out of rest. This is real faith that produces good works.
 
So there's no works under grace? That's why I said:
DWJL511 said:
Under the law, works come first before the blessing—Jacob worked seven years before he got Leah. (He didn’t get Rachel, because you can’t work for grace.) Under grace, works follow the blessing—Jacob received the blessing of Rachel first, and then worked another seven years for Laban. In other words, under the law, you have to work for the blessings. Under grace, you receive the blessings first, and that in turn empowers you to produce good works. This is working out of rest. This is real faith that produces good works.

Right, but your analogy is forced. Rachel was not a free gift because Jacob had to work a further seven years for her per his agreement with Laban.

Gen 29:27 - Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.​

Take the analogy to the extreme and we would have Jacob working seven years for the blessing of Grace, only to be tricked by receiving the Law instead. Then only blessed with Grace in exchange for a further seven years of works, but a Grace that is barren and unfruitful during those second seven years compared to Law.

Gen 31:14 - And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is thereyet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
Gen 31:15 - Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

Gen 31:41 - Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.​
 
I'm not going to debate further about this since my simple point was which came first, which is clear in a plain reading of the passage. You're free to disagree and form your own conclusions.
 
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i just happen to be reading this in the word this morning... One thing i did notice Rachel gave birth to Joseph who has Christ like characteristics . Joseph saved the family from the drought . he told the family of his dream.that one day they would bow down to him. while all the family scoffed at him . his dad observed what he had said..i also notice how the family curse of doing thing their own way followed them . yes Joseph had go through some things . but in the end he was a type Redeemer . this may not mean a lot to others but i found it interesting :goodpost:thinking:readbible
 
Yes, Ezra, Joseph is regarded by many as probably the clearest type of Christ in the OT:

1. Joseph was his father's beloved son. Jesus was God's beloved Son.
2. Joseph was rejected by his brothers. Jesus was rejected by His Jewish brethren.
3. Joseph was betrayed/sold by his brothers. Jesus was betrayed/sold by one of His disciples.
4. Joseph was thrown into a pit. Jesus descended into hell.
5. Joseph was supposed to be dead. Jesus was also thought to be dead but rose from the dead.
6. Joseph was a blessing to the Gentile world during his rejection and time away from his brothers. Jesus has been a blessing to the predominantly Gentile church during His rejection as Messiah by the Jews.
7. Joseph's brothers did not recognize him when they first met in Egypt. Jesus was not recognized by the Jews during His first coming.
8. Joseph's brothers recognized him in their second meeting in Egypt and it was a tearful and glorious reunion, a time of forgiveness. Jesus will be acknowledged and recognized by Israel at His Second Coming, and it will be a tearful but glorious reunion, a time of forgiveness.

i just happen to be reading this in the word this morning... One thing i did notice Rachel gave birth to Joseph who has Christ like characteristics . Joseph saved the family from the drought . he told the family of his dream.that one day they would bow down to him. while all the family scoffed at him . his dad observed what he had said..i also notice how the family curse of doing thing their own way followed them . yes Joseph had go through some things . but in the end he was a type Redeemer . this may not mean a lot to others but i found it interesting :goodpost:thinking:readbible
 
Jacob's two wives, Leah and Rachel, and how he came to marry them, typifies our marriages to the covenants of law and grace.
Scripture uses Sarah and Hagar for this purpose, so Leah and Rachel should not really be brought into this.
 
I Corinthians 13:9
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

OC you would die from a mistake. Now we confess our sins and receive forgiveness and he works in us to will and do of his good pleasure.

So if we shift a little.... Where do we wind up?

Which wife was he buried beside?

eddif
 
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