Gen 29: Jacob arriving in Paddan Aram, working for Laban seven years to marry Rachel but tricked into marrying Leah first instead

Jacob continued his journey and arrived in Paddan Aram. He met Rachel, Laban's younger daughter and fell in love with her. He worked 7 years for Laban in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage, but Laban gave him Leah and made him work seven more for Rachel.

• v1: After meeting with God, Jacob continued on his journey. God guided Jacob and led him to Laban and Rachel.
• v9: We see Rachel’s humility and work – she took care of her father’s sheep.
• v10: Jacob was eager to serve and help her upon understanding that she was his relative
• v13-14: Laban welcomed Jacob, even though Jacob had nothing with him.
• v15: Jacob spent a month as a guest at Laban’s tent, but did not spend his time idling in leisure. Instead, he worked for his uncle for nothing.
• v18-20: Jacob made known his affections for Rachel and kept his part of the bargain – serving Laban cheerfully for seven years.
• v23-25: Laban cheated and put Leah into Jacob’s arms instead of Rachel. Laban wronged not only Jacob, but also Leah and Rachel. Notice how Jacob, who cheated Esau, was now cheated by Laban.
• v26: The frivolous excuse Laban made for the cheat (yet he had not told Jacob about this when he undertook to serve him for his younger daughter seven years prior)
• v27: Laban further drew Jacob into the sin of multiple wives.
• v31: Leah, who was less loved, was blessed with children, while Rachel was denied that blessing. That the former was blessed was a rebuke to Jacob for making so great a difference his affections to those he was equally related to, and a comfort to Leah. “But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (1 Co 12:24-25)
• v32-35: The names Leah gave her children were expressive of her regard of both God and her husband. At no point in time did she blame her husband for his lack of love, but rather viewed it as her affliction and grief.
  Reuben = he has seen my misery
  Simeon = one who hears
  Levi = attached
  Judah = praise