The Unveiling of a Night of Deception at Daybreak

Genesis 29:31, NKJV

Yesterday Laban held a community feast, celebrating Jacob’s and Rachel’s wedding. Was that really Laban’s intention? Was he Satan in disguise? When evening came, Laban took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her (v.23). Laban, Leah and Rachel’s dad, has put Leah in a messy situation – a marriage in competition with her sister Rachel. What a cruel thing to do! Leah knew Jacob didn’t love her, but did she secretly love him? Perhaps she conspired with Laban to betray and deceive Jacob even though in that patriarchal system she probably had no say. Scripture does not show evidence that she bucked against daddy’s plot. Obviously there was no exchange of conversation that night. There must not have been a hello or an I love you between her and Jacob. Maybe she had low self-esteem and was secretly jealous of her little sister, who probably got complimented always on how pretty she was.  

Daybreak brought light, and darkness disappeared. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words denotes that daybreak in different translations means “at early dawn,” “early in the morning,” and “about daybreak.” With   the light of day came the stark and hurtful reality of false hope in a loveless marriage. It loomed painfully before Leah, setting her life on a course laden with struggles – deception, being unloved, betrayal, jealousy, conspiracy, and sharing a marriage with her sister. She needed daybreak so that she could begin to redirect her focus and change her attitude.

God is all-knowing. When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved (literally hated), He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren (v. 31). God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He is well able to navigate through any mess we make of our lives in order to accomplish His purpose. His Light is spiritual Daybreak. Today, He will shine in your heart if you let Him lift the veil behind which you hide – deception, being unwanted and unloved, betrayal, jealousy, conspiracy, marriage problems, abuse, and much, much more. Give God glory!