Repeating a Pattern.

When the Bible repeats a pattern, that means it is important. Here’s one repeated within just a few pages–a single generation. When Jacob needs a wife, he travels to the land of Laban, and sees the shepherdess Rachel coming with a herd of sheep. So what does he do?

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept. Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father. Genesis 29:9-12.

The FIRST thing Jacob did—before meeting or speaking to Rachel—was move the heavy stone and water her entire flock of sheep. That must have been an exhausting chore. But Jacob was happy to do it.

He was happy to SERVE.

And right after that, he met her father and agreed to serve him SEVEN YEARS in exchange for Rachel’s hand in marriage. SEVEN YEARS. That’s a lot of service. But just as in the story of Rebecca watering Isaac’s camels, Jacob served Rachel and her father. And God promised that the child of promise would come through this line. IS IT A COINCIDENCE THAT GOD’S BLESSING FOLLOWS SERVANTHOOD? I don’t think so.

We need spouses who will serve, like Rebecca, who watered Isaac’s camels without being asked. And WE need to SERVE also, as Jacob served Rachel and her father. Marriages require humble and selfless servants—both spouses. Look at your grandparents. Those are people whose lives are characterized by service—to each other, to their families, to their churches, to their neighbors and friends. May God make us more like them. And may God protect you and lead you to spouses who serve well—and may He help you to become people who serve well.

Dear God, make us servants. May those who know us think of us not as smart, or talented, or sweet, or nice, or gifted, but may they think of us as SERVANTS.

ΑΩ