Daily Devotions
Genesis
"He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler." Psalm 91:4
Text: Genesis 29:1-35
AN EMOTIONAL OUTBURST
Rachel must have been astonished that a stranger should do what the local shepherds had never done! Imagine a single person doing all that work to water her flock. In all the years that she had been a shepherdess, she had never experienced anything like that. Who was this man? He was obviously a stranger!
“Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.
GENESIS 29:11
Jacob could barely control himself! Tears streamed down his face as he thought about how the Lord had made this meeting with Rachel possible!
1. A loving family greeting
Jacob’s kiss of Rachel must be understood as something wholesome. He saw her as family. A kiss from a family member was the usual custom in those days.
2. The Tears that Flowed
The tears are even more easily explained. The pent-up emotions kept inside him all this while finally vented themselves. The anxiety, the worries about the uncertain future, and the recent spiritual encounter with God… all these things had opened up a new vista in Jacob’s personality.
Once before, he had cold-heartedly stolen his brother’s birthright and blessing. Without too many qualms he had deceived his father. That was the past. The new Jacob was one filled with tender emotions. He saw things from a new perspective. He could now see how real and precious God was! He could not help but be deeply touched by God’s grace and mercies shown to him. Tears flowed when his heart-springs were touched deeply.
AN IMPORTANT WORD OF EXPLANATION
Rachel must have been astonished to be greeted by a stranger with a kiss. Jacob, catching himself quickly, began to explain himself.
“And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative
and that he was Rebekah’s son. So she ran and told
Her father.”GENESIS 29:12
“Rebekah’s son”
Jacob revealed himself as Rachel’s cousin! He was none other than Rebekah’s son, Rachel’s aunty.
“She ran and told her father”
The news of Jacob’s arrival could not be kept to herself. Rachel did what was expected of her. She did what her Aunt Rebekah did a generation ago. She ran to tell her family a strange but wonderful story! It was a story of how God could bless a person!