MY HOT…COUSIN?

“Ya’akov told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rivkah’s son; and she ran and told her father.”
Genesis 29:12

Times have sure changed, haven’t they? Back in Avraham’s time men had more than one wife, had concubines, and married family members and it seemed as though Adonai was okay with it. But once you begin reading the New Testament it seems as though Adonai put His foot down and told people that they needed to be the husband of one wife, that having sex outside marriage was sinful, and having a concubine was adultery. I sure cannot answer why times have changed, and I cannot say that Adonai changed since we know He is unchanging. So then I am forced to question if maybe Adonai didn’t have these New Testament rules in place from the start and man did not heed them. Food for thought.
In reading our portion for today, though, we do see that Ya’akov made the journey to the land of his mother’s family. Upon arriving he right away met his cousin, Rachel. In an act of kindness, with nothing attached outside of culture, Ya’akov kissed Rachel and introduced himself. Having been overseas before, I have visited a few countries where they do exchange a greeting with a kiss on both cheeks. This was something new to me when I visited Peru, but more so expected when I visited Europe.
Reading on, however, we see Ya’akov welcomed into his uncle’s home, much like Lavan had seen when Avraham’s servant had visited many years before. Unlike Avraham’s servant, though, Ya’akov is not planing to take a bride and run. Instead Ya’akov began to work for Lavan and after about a month of free labor was offered payment for his work. It is at this time that we first read not only of Lavan’s firstborn, Le’ah and her weak eyes, but also of Rachel’s beautiful features. It appears as though Ya’akov is smitten – with his cousin.

Genesis 29:1-17