If Anyone Objects to This Marriage, Speak Now

This is the Through the Eyes of series. In this installment we will be covering Rachel's perspective, involving her relationship with Jacob and Jacob being tricked by her father Laban. (Normally, I will avoid writing from female perspectives for reasons, mostly it's because I think that is better left to someone other than myself). However, this story kept calling to me, and I hope you’ll understand why I chose to tell it this way. But one of the questions is- why does the master trickster Jacob fall for such a simple trick? Enjoy

My older sister, Leah, has always been perseverant.

Since she was born, forced to shoulder the work of maintaining the family.

Responsibilities have bound her like ropes, tightening around her life and trying to choke out any spark of individuality she might have had. All of it is our father Laban’s doing. And yet, she has not been entirely crushed.

Growing up, Laban would give just the faintest praise when she did something done well, and harshest rebuke when Leah made a mistake. As the eldest, Leah had numerous responsibilities. Molded like clay to be the daughter my father, Laban wanted.

If he ever really wanted a daughter at all, or just something to barter. She adapted, convincing herself- attentiveness, correctness, and production would be her salvation. That those things would give her value in the eyes of Laban. Then eventually, maybe a good husband.

In her molding, she cried- day after day. Tears leaving everlasting stains under her eyes. On her cheeks. Her misery imprinting itself not just on her soul, but also her body. A quiet, sorrowful mourn. Never letting anyone see, trying to hide the emotional scars.

A mourning for her lot in life, but hopeful maybe she will have some deliverance?Our father raised us with the expectation that we would be married off to our cousins.

Just as his sister Rebekah was wed to their relative Isaac, Leah and I were to be married to Rebekah’s sons—Leah to Esau, the elder, and I to Jacob, the younger.

He often brought this up around the tent at night, though I believe he only spoke of it with excitement over the wealth he hoped to gain—just as he had with Rebekah’s marriage.

Though Leah often made herself small, she was bold—or perhaps foolish—enough to ask about her future husband. But her agony was not eased, what came out was not pleasing. Laban had heard about his wickedness.

Many had heard of his wickedness. That led to her bed being flooded with tears. Hopeless. For me, I would hear of Jacob, who seemed fine to me- I hadn’t given much thought to it.

A man of tents, which is interesting because I am of the field. A shepherdess.

My relationship with my father was tense. His word was final, but I made sure I was heard—stealing from him and playing pranks to get his attention. We rarely spent time together; most of his interactions were with Leah, who, as the eldest and the responsible one, acted as a messenger between us.

Since that’s where the tension lay, I preferred the outdoors. I’ve always loved tending the sheep. My father is strict—he won’t let anyone draw water from his well unless I’m there.

I’ve never agreed with how he runs things, but this is as far from home as I get. Then one day this handsome boy came, and I was so in shock by all his actions.

Rolling away a stone, kissing me, saying he wanted to marry me. It was unexpected and a lot?

He seemed far more earnest and honest than any man I had ever met. But then he told me his name, and I was amazed—Jacob.

Is this the man I was to marry?

We’d heard about the wickedness of my sister’s future husband, but this boy seemed different—a go-getter. I hadn’t expected this.

I’d always been a woman of the fields, fighting off animals, protecting my flock.

Jacob shared similar passions: caring for the sheep, keeping them together, making sure they were fed and safe.

He even spoke of families in the same way. My heart grew uneasy when he agreed to work for seven years to marry me. It wasn’t usual for me to feel this way about a man.

He had flowing dark hair and smooth skin, as if he hadn’t spent much time outdoors.

A calm smile, a quick mind, a sharp tongue, and complete confidence in himself. Over those years, as we got to know each other, I realized I was meant to be with him.

We worked side by side—I taught him how to care for the flocks. Spending more time together, I found myself falling deeper in love. Those years felt like days to me.

I would come home from leading the sheep to pasture and find my sister tending to our father.

I couldn’t stand watching it. The more time I spent with Jacob, the angrier I grew at how he treated her. At least she wouldn’t be married to his brother Esau.

But what would become of her now? Father never comes out to the pasture. It seems that unless Jacob takes action, we’re barely getting by financially.

I don’t know what lies ahead for her. One day, while we were working, Jacob told me he expected my father Laban to try to trick him when we were to be married.

He taught me some hand signs to be prepared—so if he was married to someone else disguised as me, he could use them to know it wasn’t truly me. I agreed.

When I returned home, my father pulled my sister and me aside and declared, “I plan to trick Jacob!” He intended to marry my sister off as me. I was furious and stormed off in tears. My sister was embarrassed by the whole ordeal—I could tell she was uncomfortable, too.

But she’s always felt she has to go along with whatever Father says. I remembered the hand signs and thought to myself—she won’t know them.

Jacob won’t marry her because he wants to marry me.

She won’t have my husband. I love him, and he loves me. He served all those years for me. He agreed to my father’s terms and doesn’t deserve to be deceived like this.

And why should my father get away with it? We would marry, and I would join Jacob’s household—never to see my father again.

His idols, his stingy ways, his hunger for profit. How he cares for no one but himself, treating everyone as nothing more than something to be gained.

It will be great for me and for Jacob. And my father will get what he deserves. Everyone wins. The day of the wedding arrived- if I did nothing, everything would go my way.

I let them dress my sister. I could tell she was nervous—embarrassed and probably feeling trapped, like a pawn. I saw her discomfort; I saw it in her eyes. I think she wanted to be with someone good, not like the wicked Esau.

But… if this went through, who would want her? She will be publicly humiliated. Who would want her? She cares for our father until he dies—then what? He does nothing. She’d be left on the fringes. We have little wealth.

If I don’t act, I’ll condemn her to a life of quiet death. I was destined from birth to marry a great man. She was set up with Esau—or no one at all.

Unless I do something.

I approached her and told her everything. I taught her the hand signs. When the wedding came, I stayed silent—out of sight, out of mind—doing as my father commanded.

She executed the signs perfectly. She was taken away, and they were married. I watched the man I love marry someone else.

But at least my sister would be cared for for the rest of her life. I know my father will give me to Jacob too. Jacob will work even harder for me.

My sister will always be with us—I can’t leave her behind. Please forgive me, Jacob.

I love you.