Genesis 29:1-30

Do you remember how Jacob fled from his father, Isaac, and his mother, Rebekah? Why did he flee? Jacob had not been honest with his father, and his twin brother, Esau, was so angry with him that he wanted to kill him.
Jacob had spent many nights sleeping out in the wilderness, with a stone for a pillow. But after that wonderful dream, he was no longer afraid.
Now, he is very close to the land Haran where long ago his mother used to live. Oh, look, Jacob—over there in the distance—so many sheep! Can you hear them bleating? There are shepherds there, too, waiting by a large well. Soon, all those sheep will arrive at the well, and the heavy stone will have to be lifted. Then, they will use large jars filled with water to fill the animals' troughs. 

"I am Jacob, and my mother’s name is Rebekah." Oh, so it’s Aunt Rebekah? My father has spoken of her so often! She went to the land of Canaan. How wonderful that you have come! I must go home and tell everyone right away. And with that, Rachel is gone.

Jacob has no choice but to look after the sheep for the time being. Just then, Laban (Rebekah’s brother) arrives.

"Well, well—are you Jacob? How are your parents doing? Why are your clothes so dusty? And where are your camels?"
Tears well up in Jacob’s eyes.
That evening, as they sit quietly in the house, Jacob tells him everything—including the fact that he had been dishonest and had to set off on his journey all alone. He feels ashamed that he hasn’t even brought a gift for Rachel. Laban just chuckles a little at this.

"But you did help her, didn't you?" he says. "Do you like sheep?"
"I have always looked after them and taken care of them," Jacob replies. "Well, then, you can do the same for me, if you’d like!"
"Yes, I would very much like to stay with you here in Haran."
And so, from that time on, Jacob takes care of Uncle Laban’s sheep. God helps him to do a good job of it.

Jacob wanted to marry Rachel so much that he offered to work for Laban for seven whole years. He loved her so much that the seven years “seemed like only a few days.” 

But on the wedding day, Laban tricked Jacob! He gave Jacob his other daughter, Leah, instead of Rachel. (Remember how Jacob once tricked his own father? Now Jacob knew how it felt to be tricked.) Laban agreed: Jacob could marry Rachel too, if he worked another seven years. So he did.

However, Leah knew that Jacob loved Rachel more, and it made her feel sad and unwanted. But God SAW Leah. He saw that she felt unloved - and He was especially kind to her. God blessed Leah with children, and she praised Him for seeing her.

One of Leah's sons was named Judah. From his family would one day come King David - and one day, Jesus.

The sister nobody seemed to notice was seen, loved, and blessed by God.

God sees the people who feel unloved and left out - and He has special love and a good plan for them.
Jacob was now living far away from his parents and his brother. God had blessed him abundantly, just as He had promised. Yet, Jacob always knew that one day he would have to return to Canaan—the land God had promised to him and his children. But first, he had to work for his uncle for fourteen years. Laban’s sheep-farming enterprise flourished, and Laban himself was blessed by God for Jacob’s sake.

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