From Genesis 29:15ff. we know that Jacob stayed with his uncle Laban in order to marry his daughter Rachel. The name ‘Laban’ means ‘white’ and is intended to point us in a spiritual context to the dimension of purity and righteousness in Christ Jesus, in which we must walk (cf. Isaiah 1:18 i.c.w. Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7).
Isaiah 1:18:
18 ‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
18 ‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Hebrews 9:14:
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
1 John 1:7:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Laban identified himself completely with Jacob because he recognized him as his own bone, which is a reference to Jesus’ identification with us as His bride (cf. Genesis 29:14a i.c.w. Genesis 2:23).
Genesis 29:14a:
14a Then Laban said to him, ‘You are my own flesh and blood.’ …
14a Then Laban said to him, ‘You are my own flesh and blood.’ …
Genesis 2:23:
23 The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman”, for she was taken out of man.’
23 The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman”, for she was taken out of man.’
This means for us as disciples that Jesus Christ stands by us in all our upcoming testing in life and is with us.
The Necessity of Divine Testing
As saints in Christ Jesus, it is inevitable that the Holy Spirit will lead us into a phase of divine testing that requires all our strength and constancy as well as holding on to the promise. God doesn’t test us beyond our own strength (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:13), but in certain phases of our lives we cannot avoid testing that are destined to lead to a great result with an eternal character.
1 Corinthians 10:13:
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
It is said that the violent take the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matthew 11:12).
Matthew 11:12:
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.
The term ‘violent ones’ includes people who fervently cling to the promises of God despite all circumstances.
During such testing times, it is necessary that we already have the truth of God’s Word within us in order to respond to the tempter confidently with the power of God’s Word and thus remain living in the centre of God’s will (cf. Luke 4:1-4ff.).
Luke 4:1-4:
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’
4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone.” ’
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’
4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone.” ’
This results in a greater power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, with which God as our Father wants us to be able to go forward in it (cf. Luke 4:13-14).
Luke 4:13-14:
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
The Timeframe of the Twice Seven Years
With regard to Jacob and his testing period with Laban, the LORD’s primary concern was that Jacob would hold on to his promise, which in this case was Rachel, even though he had already served seven years with Laban for Rachel in order to be with her. Laban, however, gave him his first-born daughter Leah, so Jacob decided to serve another seven years with Laban to obtain Rachel as his wife (cf. Genesis 29:18-28.30).
Genesis 29:18-20:
18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’
19 Laban said, ‘It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.’
20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.’
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.
23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.
24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?’
26 Laban replied, ‘It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder one.
27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.’
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife….
30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’
19 Laban said, ‘It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.’
20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.’
22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.
23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.
24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.
25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?’
26 Laban replied, ‘It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder one.
27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.’
28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife….
30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
The number ‘7’ plays a significant role in connection with the promise to Jacob in the form of ‘twice seven years’ in receiving Rachel. It can be said that Jacob passed through the level of the power of the truth of the Word of God, as the numerical value ‘7’ is associated in Hebrew with the ‘crowned sword’.
It is the Word of God, which is living, powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, to be active in us on the inner man (Note: soul and spirit) and to cut off those things that do not conform to the will and eternal value system of God (cf. Ephesians 6:17 i.c.w. Hebrews 4:12).
Ephesians 6:17:
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
This reveals to us that the first seven years of Jacob’s ministry under Laban were for a pruning of the soul and the second seven years comprised a pruning of the spirit for spiritual quality progress and growth.
The Level of ‘Dim Eyes’
Jacob had to deal with the influence of unenlightened spiritual sight and weakness as well as weariness represented by Leah, as Leah is reported to have had dim eyes. When Jacob had passed through this time, he entered a new level of spiritual vision in order to act in the revelatory truth. This is represented by Rachel because of her beauty and that she had enlightened eyes (cf. Genesis 29:17 i.c.w. Luke 11:34).
Genesis 29:17:
17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.
17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.
Luke 11:34:
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.
As already mentioned, we are told by the Word of God about Leah (Note: means ‘wild cow’ or also ‘weary, tired’) that she had dim eyes and that her name is associated with a wild quality. Her name and the cloudy state of her eyes can stand for an unenlightened spiritual vision (Note: lack of knowledge), a spirit of slumber (cf. Isaiah 29:10) and a spirit of legalism, which results in wildness and a disorderly walk (cf. Proverbs 29:18; Hosea 4:6a i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 3:6).
Isaiah 29:10:
10 The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep: he has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers).
10 The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep: he has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers).
Proverbs 29:18:
18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
Hosea 4:6a:
… 6a my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. …
… 6a my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. …
2 Corinthians 3:6:
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Visitation of the LORD as Bridegroom and the Call to Vigilance
In addition, these above-mentioned spiritual deficiencies lead believers to run the risk of not recognizing in time the visitation of the hand of the LORD, who stands ‘at the door’ as the bridegroom and is full of mysterious revelation as well as longing for true spiritual intimacy, as Song of Songs 5:2-6 explains.
Song of Songs 5:2-6:
2 I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.’
3 I have taken off my robe – must I put it on again? I have washed my feet – must I soil them again?
4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him.
5 I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.
2 I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.’
3 I have taken off my robe – must I put it on again? I have washed my feet – must I soil them again?
4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him.
5 I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer.
This visitation of the LORD includes revelation about the bride’s position and various levels of relationship, which is made clear by how He calls her:
- friend => He recognizes her as a partner in the love relationship with her,
- sister => He sees His beloved bride as part of His family,
- dove => He recognizes her as a person filled with the Holy Spirit,
- pure => He recognizes her in the lifestyle of purity and holiness.
While the bride sleeps, her bridegroom approaches, entering the realm of relationship with her as a bride (Note: garden; cf. Song of Songs 5:1).
Song of Songs 5:1:
1 He I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Friends Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.
1 He I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Friends Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.
The bridegroom’s approach leads Him to see His bride as part of His family calling her sister, and as a true beloved in the covenant calling her bride. Here He is deeply touched by various qualities, which is made clear by Song of Songs 5:1. These qualities are the following:
- the fruit of her unconditional obedience (Note: myrrh),
- her worship (Note: spices/balm),
- her walk in the revelation of the Word (Note: honeycomb),
- her walk in the spirit of prophecy (Note: honey)
- her walk in joy (Note: wine) and
- in the purity of the Word of God (Note: milk).
While the bridegroom is moved by the devotion of His bride and therefore makes His way to her, He is accompanied by the presence of the increase of these above-mentioned qualities as He has spices picked and by increase of strength by eating, which is accompanied by encouragement by drinking.
In addition, the presence of Christ as the Word of God increases in the structure of the bridegroom which is the love relationship of eternity. This presence is associated with a great power of revelation and transparency that encompasses nothing other than the revelation of the Word of God as represented by the head full of dew and locks full of night drops, and the stripped garment.
The Increase in the Relational Environment and the Economic Growth of Jacob
Returning to the ‘twice seven years’ that Jacob served under the leadership of Laban, these contributed to Jacob’s growth in his relational environment (Note: Leah and her handmaid Zilpah, Rachel and her handmaid Bilhah; cf. Genesis 29:24-29) as well as in his economy and growing influence.
Jacob’s economic increase was because the LORD sent an angel to Jacob in a dream and revealed to him a strategy of personal economic development in order to move out of the area of testing with economic increase (cf. Genesis 31:4-13).
Genesis 31:4-13:
4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were.
5 He said to them, ‘I see that your father’s attitude towards me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.
6 You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.
8 If he said, “The speckled ones will be your wages,” then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, “The streaked ones will be your wages,” then all the flocks bore streaked young.
9 So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10 ‘In the breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.
11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, “Jacob.” I answered, “Here I am.”
12 And he said, “Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.” ’
4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were.
5 He said to them, ‘I see that your father’s attitude towards me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.
6 You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.
8 If he said, “The speckled ones will be your wages,” then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, “The streaked ones will be your wages,” then all the flocks bore streaked young.
9 So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10 ‘In the breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.
11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, “Jacob.” I answered, “Here I am.”
12 And he said, “Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.” ’
We need to know that with the period of Jacob’s ‘twice seven years’ of ministry under the leadership of Laban, there is a new spiritual dimension connected that comes with the powerful hand of God, as the numerical value ‘14’ gives the Hebrew word ‘יָד – jād’, which means, among other things, ‘hand’ or also ‘power, force’.
Based on this, we should be encouraged to respond sensitively in spirit to the presence of God and, amid a spiritual testing, carry the inner confidence that the Lord is with us. This helps us to experience the effect of His hand opening the door in the form of an opportunity.
It is therefore advisable to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to prepare us in trials and situations of being tested in faith. He can best guide us inwardly in such a way that if we are willing to learn and humble ourselves, we will recognize the corresponding trial as such in order to apply the truth of God’s Word victoriously.
It is not up to us to go into trials only when we feel ready for them, but it is up to us to recognize such a testing in order to stand firm in the promise given to us as well as to walk deeper in Christ in it and bring glory to the Father in it.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
