Jacob's Love

Genesis 29:20 (ESV) So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

One thing the three major Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) have in common is their love for their wives. This was the ancient world where sincere love was rare and marriage was often an issue of property rights. But the Bible paints a common thread in the origination of God's house. The men in His house love their wives from the heart. Yes, Abraham had his other women and notoriously slept with Hagar, and yes, Jacob slept with all the women in his house, but for all of these men, only ONE woman would truly switch them on.

Abraham wept bitterly over Sarah's death, and Jacob, toward the end of his life recounts the pain he felt at losing Rachel as he blesses his grandsons in Genesis 48:
Genesis 48:7 (ESV) As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

I think it's cool that the scriptures go out of their way to portray these men's sincere affection for their wives.

What does it tell us?

First, it reminds us that the story of our redemption is an emotional story. God creates us in His image and to feel deeply for one particular woman on behalf of a man is reflective of that image.

Second, it reminds us that marriage is more than a contract. It is an issue of the heart meant to be enjoyed and celebrated with true and sacrificial love for each other. Jacob works 14 years for Rachel. He did so ONLY for her.

Third, it points us to Christ. He is the true Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who loves his true bride - the Church.

Ephesians 5 gets a lot of females upset with the whole "submit to your husbands" command. But that command is quickly followed by the husbands responsibility as exemplified in Christ, Who is the fulfillment of the Patriarchal types.

Ephesians 5:25–27 (ESV) Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

We are the love of Jesus. We are what He's working for. We are the ones He gave himself up for. That should touch our emotions in a powerful way. That should remind us that Christianity IS emotional. It's okay to express love to God. When you do so, you're joining in His song over you.