BULLETIN ARTICLE
1 September 2019
THE ARM OF JUSTICE
There are many similarities to be seen in the family narratives we find in Genesis. The finding of a bride by Jacob himself and the bride found by Abraham’s senior servant for Isaac his father; the deception of Jacob towards his father Isaac and of Jacob by his father-in-law Laban. Just as Abraham’s senior servant found a wife for Isaac at the well of Aram Naharaim in the town of Nahor, Jacob met Rachel also at a well in Paddan Aram. The location of these two are in the same vicinity. Some Bible commentators say that Paddan Aram is an alternate name for Aram Naharaim. This is very likely as both men were instructed to go and find a wife in the land of their forefathers. Wells in those times were gathering places for people in general, to quench their thirst, to water their flocks of camels and sheep, to converse on the happenings of the days and send messages one to another. Abraham’s senior servant sought a respite for his camels at the well, just as Jacob found rest after a long journey, he met with shepherds tending to their flocks at the well.
Note that there is an obvious and clear difference between Abraham’s senior servant and Jacob. Abraham’s devout senior servant was full of prayerfulness in his quest whereas deceiver Jacob was on the run from his aggrieved brother Esau. He was at the same time sent away to look for a wife by his mother Rebekah who feared for his personal safety of retaliation by Esau. There were many intrigues in Jacob’s life at that point in time. He stole his elder brother’s birthright and tricked his father for blessings intended for elder brother.
The provident hand of God is seen in this well-known adage of “what goes around comes around” or “as you sow, so shall you reap”. The justice of God rules and does not contradict his love and compassion towards his covenanted children, present, past and on to the future.
It seemed all would be smooth going for Jacob, having found Rachel, lovely in form and beautiful. He was far away from his wronged elder brother Esau and in the safe compound and household of Laban. He was well settled and even had a secure and benign occupation of tending sheep with the promised wage of a wife for the service he rendered to Laban. For seven years it must have been like heaven on earth, no threats or dangers in the serene, peaceful and daily presence of being with Rachel, whom he loved very much. But it was not to be. Jacob, who deceived his father Isaac, was himself deceived by his prospective father-in-law Laban into taking the older daughter Leah first in marriage. To have Rachel the younger daughter as a wife, he had to work for Laban another seven years. Jacob eventually paid a heavy penalty for his acts of deception towards his own family.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” (Theodore Parker, 1853). God is the creator of this universe and he establishes its moral laws. He expects these moral laws to be followed. Thus his ways with mankind will be in justice and truth. No one shall escape his long arm of justice.
