Here we look at the Biblical story of Leah and Rachel, two sisters who were very different in their character and behavior. However, their lives were interwoven to the point that they had the same husband, and their offspring have been interlinked throughout history.

2. Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau and on his way to stay with his mother’s
brother, Laban, in Harran. He was also hoping to find a wife. At Bethel, God told
him in a dream that He was with him and everyone would be blessed through him
and his descendants.

3. As Jacob came close to Harran he saw a well covered by a large stone and three
flocks of sheep grazing nearby.

4. Jacob asked the shepherds, “Where are you from?” “We’re from Harran,” they
replied. “Do you know Laban?” Jacob enquired. “Yes and he is well,” they
answered. “Here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”

5. When Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, he rolled
the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. He told
Rachel who he was, kissed her and wept aloud. She ran to tell her father.

6. Laban invited Jacob to stay with them. A month later, Laban said, “Just because
you are a relative of mine, you should not work for me without pay. Tell me what
your wages should be.”

7. Laban had two daughters; the elder was Leah, and the younger was Rachel.

8. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for
your younger daughter Rachel.”

9. So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days
to him because of his love for her.

10. At the end of the seven years, Laban held a wedding feast. But Laban gave Leah
and not Rachel to Jacob as his bride.

11. It was not until the next morning that Jacob discovered he had married Leah and
not Rachel.

12. A furious Jacob confronted Laban. “What is this you have done to me? I served
you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” “It is not our custom here
to give the younger daughter in marriage before the elder one,” Laban explained.
“But I will allow you to marry Rachel in return for another seven years work.”

13. Jacob agreed. A week later, Rachel became his wife also. Jacob worked another
seven years for Laban.

14. When the Lord saw Leah was not loved by Jacob, He gave her four boys, Reuben,
Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Rachel, however, remained childless.

15. Eventually, God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her
womb. She conceived and bore a son and called his name Joseph.

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