Parables of the Bible: The End's Teacher

By: Wilona Riva

Disclaimer: God owns the Bible; I'm just borrowing it.

Not Our Custom

"Poor little Jacob," Baal cooed into the shepherd's ears, while watching Laban's flocks on the plains of Aram. The two angels guarding him scowled, but did not hinder the demon, who flicked his forked tongue at them.

"Really mature," Araton spoke up. "Tired of fighting with Lillith, so you came to play with us?"

Baal ignored them and stoked the silent shepherd's ego, "What is fourteen years but a drop in a bucket to the Almighty? At least your wives are more pleasing than Esau's."

Jacob trembled at the strange thought. Where was this caravan going? Why was he even thinking of Esau at a time like this. His thoughts returned to last week's events.

"It is not our custom," Laban explained to a furious Jacob, "Finish the bridal week and I will give you Rachel in exchange for another seven years of work." (1)

"He's caught in his own loom," Soterasiel murmured, as Jacob acquiesced to his uncle's wishes. "He's determined to have Rachel at any cost."

In the women's quarters, in Laban's home, Rachel twirled around in her bride's gown. "What do you think, Leah? Think Jacob will like it?"

Leah squinted at the lovely vision her sister made. "He'll begin spouting nonsense about doves and pomegranates," she said, swallowing the bile in her throat. I can't believe Father would do this to me, to us!

Rachel giggled. "I know; Benaiah was actually rehearsing his words a bit too audibly at the well three weeks ago. I can't help it to think of Lota's face when she hears him."

Leah had to laugh at that imagery. It was a well-known fact that Benaiah's chasing of Lota had become something of a joke in Haran. "I hope he lands her soon," she said, adjusting Rachel's veil. "I hear music approaching; Jacob's come."

Rachel bunched her skirts in her hands with nervousness. "I don't have anything stuck between my teeth, do I?"

"Rachel," Leah warily told her. "You know I have weak eyes."

"Oh, yeah," the younger sister murmured, not really paying attention.

Jacob shook his head wildly to clear his thoughts and stood up. "I may not love Leah, like I do Rachel, but she is my wife and I will treat her with respect."

Baal howled in anger as Soterasiel saluted his departing figure. "And good riddance," he murmured, taking up his post once more.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Reve asked Cherith.

"Absolutely," Cherith replied.

"Don't humans count backwards when the symptoms first begin to show? It's only been a month after all," Reve said.

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Cherith responded.

"Leah was not loved like Rachel was. I opened her womb and closed Rachel's. Your mother's guardian has always been sensitive to the sparks of life and sensed it at once. Nine months beneath her heart would bring forth your oldest brother," the Great King spoke to the traveller.

"Reuben, meaning 'see, a son'," the traveler agreed. "Followed by Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Leah was rich in sons."

"She was loved," the Great King added. "Jacob may not have shown it, but he loved her, not as the sister of beloved Rachel, but for her quiet ways-her strength to deal with almost any kind of adversity."

"Or else I wouldn't have been born," Dinah said, shaking out her auburn curls as she removed her hood. "Thank you, Adonai, for showing mercy to my mother."

(1) Genesis 29:26.