Genesis Chapter 29

¹ Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

² And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.

Back then, local wells were extremely vital to the life of the people who lived around there. When Jacob arrived, there were already 3 flocks of sheep there, waiting for the other flocks to arrive so they could roll the stone off the well and start watering the sheep. I’m not sure why this well was covered or why everyone had to be there before the watering started.

³ And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.

⁴ And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

⁵ And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

⁶ And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

⁷ And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

⁸ And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.

—John 4:8-15 ⁷ There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.⁸ (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)⁹ Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.¹⁰ Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.¹¹ The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?¹² Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?¹³ Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:¹⁴ But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.¹⁵ The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

In Genesis 29:8 we see the stone needing to be rolled off of the well, so the sheep can be watered….and in Mark 16:4-16 ⁴ And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.⁵ And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.⁶ And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
We see the stone rolled away, Jesus gives us LIVING WATER…GLORY TO GOD!!!

The stone on the well that Jacob encountered was a prophecy! It was a foreshadowing of the resurrection of Jesus, where the great stone was rolled away from the sepulchre. Now we can have the living water that will quench our thirst forever, we just need to ask Jesus.

Jacob would take two wives of Laban’s daughters, one of which would give birth to Judah and from Judah came Jesus the Messiah!

⁹ And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them.

¹⁰ And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

¹¹ And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

¹² And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.

¹³ And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

¹⁴ And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

¹⁵ And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

Laban wanted Jacob to work for him and wanted to know what Jacob wanted to be paid for his work.

¹⁶ And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

¹⁷ Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

¹⁸ And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Jacob offered 7 years of work and his wages were that he could marry Laban’s daughter Rachel.

¹⁹ And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

Laban agreed, but Laban was kind of shady in his dealings with Jacob. He failed to tell Jacob that he would have to first work 7 years and marry is older daughter Leah…then another 7 years for Rachel.

²⁰ And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

²¹ And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

²² And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

²³ And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

²⁴ And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

²⁵ And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

²⁶ And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

Laban had to know Jacob didn’t know he had to first marry Leah. Laban tricked Jacob…. just like Jacob tricked his father by dressing up like his bother Esau and receiving the blessing and birthright.

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

²⁸ And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

²⁹ And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

³⁰ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

³¹ And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

I imagine it was hard for the new bride Leah to see her new husband marry her sister a week after her wedding, especially knowing that Jacob adored her sister so much more. God saw this and gave something to Leah that levelled the playing field…. he gave her the ability to have children, something he didn’t give to Rachel at that moment.

³² And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

³³ And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

³⁴ And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

³⁵ And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.