18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”
I never realized before today the reason that Jacob was willing to work seven years for the privilege of marrying Rachel. If you remember, Jacob has fled from his brother, his family and his country. He has gone back to the land of his ancestors at the request of his father to get for himself a wife. He tricked his brother out of everything his brother sought in life, the blessing of his father and the inheritance due the oldest male in the family. His father wants to ensure that Jacob does not marry any of the women of the land they are living in, so off Jacob goes. His mother pushes him out the door because she hears that her older son is going to kill him as soon as his father dies. It is a hasty departure and he leaves almost empty handed. He doesn’t have the required ‘bride price’ with him. That is why he is willing to work the seven years for her. Of course Rachel’s father would love to have the money right up front instead of having to gain the value from his free labor over the seven year period. But he reluctantly agrees to the terms of the marriage. We might compare this transaction to the purchase of a home using a mortgage. Few of us have cash to pay for a house, so we obtain a mortgage. With each monthly payment we own a little larger stake in the house. The bank owns the remaining. The longer you are in the home, the more the home belongs to you. Each year Jacob worked, the less he owed her father. I can see why the seven years would go by rapidly for Jacob. He had again gotten what he wanted his way. He was in love with his beautiful future wife. He got to sit around in the pastures and watch the sheep. And he did it without any money down!
The Arnold Journey 