Kissin' Cousins

Genesis 29: 1-14a

So Jacob gets close to Laban's place and sees some shepherds in the field. He asks them if they know Laban and how he was. As they talk, Rachel approaches with the sheep. Somehow, he takes it upon himself to assume managerial sheperding duties and instructs Laban's workers to water the sheep. Maybe he sees how beautiful Rachel is and wants to prolong their time together- maybe he feels a familial obligation to make sure things are taken care of, but the sheperds let him know that it isn't yet time. The sheep need first to be gatehred and the stone needs to be first rolled away from the well.

When Jacob sees Rachel, he determines to roll away the stone himself and water the sheep. Maybe he's overjoyed to finally reach his destination and meet his kin, but it seems like he's totally hitting on her here. Let me water these sheep for you- and that rock, no problem hon, I can move it myself. Just have a seat and I'll join you in a minute. After he finishes with the watering he kisses her and begins to weep aloud.

This sounds a bit forward except that Laban embraces and kisses him too- so maybe this is just more of a custom of the time. I'm guessing he enjoyed the first kiss more than the second.

Maybe the lesson here is how we should treat family. Laban responds to Jacob's tale by saying "You are my own flesh and blood."  (NIV)While we definitely have an obligation to our kin- perhaps it's more significant that the church is later told to love each other like brothers. If we are Christians, we are family.

That doesn't mean I'm going to kiss you.