Firstborn (again)

So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.) But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?” “It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. “But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.” [Genesis 29.22-27]

The irony of this event is huge. How could Jacob have even imagined the previous manipulation he exercised on Esau and his father Isaac would come back on him over the same subject of "the firstborn?"

It is furthermore interesting that Jacob was unaware of the "custom here" as Laban put it, of not allowing subsequent children to marry before the firstborn. Was it actually a custom there? Or, was it Laban's way to manipulate Jacob? It would seem the latter, but we should not rule out the former.

Regardless what we believe about the "firstborn" situation here is Jacob's situation, it is significant. Certainly, the issue of the "firstborn" affected Jacob's life!

It would seem wise for us to consider the "firstborn" that all Scripture points to: Jesus. Perhaps the stories of Esau and Jacob serve to heighten our awareness of the subject so that we better recognize the significance of Jesus!

Father, help us to understand better the fact that Jesus is the firstborn of Your family... and that those who believe are indeed the rest of the family!