Jacob’s fortitude demonstrates the principle that the greater we love something, the greater will be our ability to endure whatever is necessary to obtain it. While his story, as told in Genesis 29:13-30, is one of trickery and deception, it is an excellent example of endurance. After he deceived his dying father, Isaac, into blessing him with the blessing that belonged to his brother, Esau, Jacob fled to Haran to find his uncle Laban.
Then Jacob fell in love with Rachel, Laban’s youngest daughter. His love was so great, he agreed to serve seven years for her. Yet, scripture tells us they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. In our microwave society that’s mindboggling.
At the end of seven years, the plot thickens. After a blissful night of matrimony, Jacob discovers he’s been deceived. He had married Leah, the eldest daughter. Laban explained it wasn’t customary to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older. For Jacob that meant enduring seven more years of service for Rachel. Amazingly, motivated by his great love for her, he served Laban an additional seven years. Can you phathom a love that great?
However, Jacob’s love pales in comparison to Christ’s. A love so great he endured the agony of the cross until the work of redemption had been brought to completion. May we so value His love for us that it becomes the compelling force in our lives and enables us to endure all things.
Father God, we can’t possibly comprehend the full extent of the sacrificial love you have for us. May we allow it to become the compelling force in our lives, which strengthens our reserve to persevere. Amen.
Go Deeper — Read 1 Corinthians 13. Identify all the characteristics of genuine Christian love, along with endurance. Then examine your life for evidence of each.