The account of Jacob’s marriages is sometimes a sad and complicated one. The record in Scripture reveals the heartbreak and misery of divided affections. 

Jacob first loved Rachel, who was the second-born daughter of Laban. However, on his wedding night, he was deceived by Rachel’s father, just as he himself had once deceived his own father, Isaac. Reaping the bitter fruits of his ambition, Jacob now had to take for himself two wives—both Leah and Rachel, along with their maidservants as his concubines. 

Rachel’s older sister, Leah, bore more children with Jacob than she did, but Rachel bore the two sons he loved best. In his showing favoritism, Jacob repeated the sin of his own parents.

At last, the Lord God Almighty called Jacob back to Bethel and reminded him of his earlier vows to follow Him. Jacob called on his wives and children to return with him to the land of promise. On the journey homeward, at a ford along the banks of the Jabbok River, Jacob was met by an angel. The angel wrestled with him until the break of day, leaving Jacob with a limp and a new name, Israel. 

Obediently continuing homeward, Jacob brought his family to an oak tree in Shechem. There, he buried the idols Rachel had stolen from her father, renewed his vows to God, and urged his family to serve God alone. Not long afterwards, just outside the village of Bethlehem, Jacob suffered the loss of his beloved Rachel. He later suffered the loss of Rachel’s son, Joseph, when Leah’s sons sold their half-brother into slavery and then deceived their father by falsely reporting that Joseph had been slain by wild animals.

But, unlike Isaac’s life, Jacob’s story ended well—in repentance and faith. He saw his long lost son, Joseph, exalted. He saw Judah repent of his sin and stand up as an intercessor for his brothers. When Leah died, he buried her in the cave at Hebron where his father and grandfather were buried. Jacob went down to Egypt, but by faith he gave prophecies of each of his sons and proclaimed the steadfast hope that Israel would return one day to the land of promise.

Along the way of life, we can glean some valuable lessons from Jacob’s marriages:

Lessons from Jacob

1. Beware of divided affections.
2. Keep the vows that you make before God.
3. Call your wife and children to worship God alone.
4. Lead on “softly” in the way that God has directed.
5. Bring your family “back to Bethel.”
6. Glory in the “limp” when God has taught you a painful lesson.
7. Prepare for your own burial and for eternity in hope and confidence. 

Lessons from Leah and Rachel 

1. Value spiritual virtue over physical beauty.
2. Encourage and assist your husband in the payment of his vows.
3. Never seek from your husband what only God can give.
4. Surrender all of your hidden idols and affections to the light of God’s presence.
5. Be willing to give your own life for the lives and welfare of your children.
6. Follow your husband to “Bethel,” to worship in the house of God.
7. Accept your husband’s “limp,” knowing it is a reminder that he has been touched by God.