Genesis 29: Seconds

Spirit always wins.

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

Reading from Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

So the LORD’s blessing of Abraham went to Isaac, his second son, then to Jacob, Isaac’s second son. Jacob, in turn, loves Rachel, the second daughter of Laban. Same pattern I’m seeing.

Born of flesh (“man” of Chapter 1), then, SECONDLY, born of spirit (Adam, Chapter 2). Cain, then Abel.

The two brothers or two sisters could be interpreted as the same person: the flesh and its “needs” and the spirit or consciousness, which is more beautiful. If and when there’s a struggle or rivalry between the flesh and the spirit, spirit must win. But when depicted as a story, it seems unfair to the character playing the role of “flesh,” (Ishmael, Esau, Leah).

When the story is viewed as history instead of allegory, nobody looks good. Especially the LORD, a very cruel game-master.

But as far as the story itself goes, I had previously misunderstood or was mis-taught something in this chapter. I knew Jacob worked seven years to marry Rachel, then was deceived and Leah became his bride. I…