Laban's Lie

Lying spins a web that entangles many people, including the liar. Keep Reading...

Genesis 29:20-25 - So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her.”

So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter as her maidservant.

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?”

What goes around comes around. The deceiver got deceived. Jacob, who stole the birthright with deception, was deceived into marrying the older sister, Leah. God does not deceive, nor does he condone deception. In fact, he hates lying. Proverbs 6:16-19 But, it is interesting that lying makes you vulnerable to a world of lies.

Jacob worked very hard to get the woman he loved. Isaac also worked very hard, amassing great wealth to pass onto his oldest son, Esau, the one he loved.  Deception begets deception. Sin has consequences. Without breaking the line of deceit through repentance, it will grow and multiply. This issue of deceit even extended into Jacob's sons. They lied to their father about the death of his favorite son, Joseph. How cruel!

Small lies become bigger lies. It is easy to condone little "white lies", which then  become dark secrets. Are there any areas of deception that you have allowed to remain in your life? Perhaps, you haven’t been completely truthful in your relationships. You are known for the most part. But could there be secrets that you hold onto?

Lying to gain position or possessions is quite tempting. Jacob gave into this temptation and was later bitten by the same thing. Have you ever boosted your reputation through deception? Have you ever grasped for power in relationships by “name or title dropping?”

Don’t allow slight shades of deception to come from you. Choose always to be a person of truth.