"And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her."
There is no doubt that Jacob's love for Rachel was strong. For seven years he worked for Rachel's father, Laban, so he could marry the girl of his dreams.Jacobs seven years of labor were repaid with the wrong bride. Instead of the beautiful Rachel he yearned for, he was given "tender eyed" Leah. Did Jacob get mad at his father-in-law and vow to get even? Did he say, "Oh well, I didn't really want her that bad anyway. I'll just stick with Leah."
No. He talked things over with Laban and for another mere seven years of labor, he was able to make Rachel his wife. (Gen. 29;30). Ah, true love. The kind that "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Cor. 13:7) The kind of love that doesn't abandon ship at the first sign of a storm. The kind of love that is willing to make sacrifices. Does it still exist? Sure it does. But it doesn't make the news very often. It's not the
sensationalism that the media seems to crave.Harmonious marriages are not the norm projected to society. Soap operas portray marriage as something no more serious than a child's first crush. Characters are married five or more times. Which may be okay for a make believe world, but in reality, a broken marriage, means broken hearts.
How do devoted couples remain devoted? There are certain unspoken rules that most happy couples abide by. One of the most important is, they have the ability to laugh at themselves. Laughter can dismantle many a time bomb.
They respect each other and know not to hit below the belt. Words spoken in anger have caused many a heart ache. The Bible has this to say about angry words, " A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)
Finally, trust is essential. Happy couples trust each other and they trust in the Lord. When problems occur, they consult each other, and they consult God.
Rachel and Jacob had their problems, every marriage does. Falling in love is wonderful but staying in love is work. "Nothing worth having ever came easy," my grandmother used to say. A good marriage can be one of God's greatest blessings if we're willing to
invest in it.
About Teresa Kindred
She is a freelance writer, author of two books, columnist and public speaker. She has been married for twenty years and she and her husband, Bill, have five children. They attend the Pleasant Hill Church of Christ. Her passions are her faith, family, and her writing and speaking career.
Visit her website at
Books by Teresa Kindred
"Mozart for a Mother's Soul"
"The Knot at the End of Your Rope - Ten Ways to Hold on When You are Stressed Out "
This article is copyrighted by the author. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted without permission of the author.
©Copyright 2001
