Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood." After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month … - Genesis 29:14

Today's Scripture Reading (August 27, 2021): Genesis 29

American singer and humorist Kinky Friedman argued that "money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail." We like to argue about whether love is more important than money or whether it is money that makes the world go round, but the truth is probably one that we don't want to hear. Both are important. Not that we need to be rich, whatever might be your definition of wealth. But money issues are one of the significant points of conflict in any romantic relationship. We need love, but we also seem to need access to at least some money.

Add into the mix the emotions of a father, who wants the best for his children, both in someone who will love and respect his daughters, as well as someone who will be able to provide some level of financial security for them, and the complete picture of the intersection of love and money becomes a little more muddled.

But in the ancient world, the situation was a little clearer. The concept of romantic love never even entered the equation. It was the job of the father to find someone who could financially care for his daughters. The daughter had very little input into who it was that she would marry. She simply trusted the plan developed by dad. At least, that was the way that it was supposed to work in theory.

Laban had two daughters for which he needed to find a husband. But he wasn't interested in finding a romantic match for his girls. He wanted someone who could financially care for his girls. Enter Jacob. Laban shows great hospitality to this visitor from another land. But he is not just altruistic. Yes, Laban offered hospitality to Jacob because that was a cultural expectation. He also provided hospitality because Jacob was his nephew. But we can't underestimate the fact that Laban also knew that Jacob would one day inherit a significant amount of wealth from his father, Isaac. Jacob was someone who could financially care for, not just one, but possibly both of his daughters. As Jacob stays in his house for a month, Laban is already working on a plan that will result in this young man marrying not just one of his daughters but both of them. Jacob was actively pursuing Rachel, but if Laban played the situation right, he would marry Leah as well. Laban needed Jacob to care financially for his daughters. And maybe, in the process, he could make them happy as well.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 30