Genesis 29:15-28v15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
The opening of this passage shows two family members discussing wages as one was working for another. Jacob loved Rachael and asked if he could work for her hand in marriage. Her farther agreed and the price was set at seven years of labor. After the time had passed a wedding feast was arranged and Jacob made love to his new bride but discovered in the morning that it was the older sister, he had married not Rachael. The custom of marrying the oldest daughter first was explained. The price was set for another seven years of labor and Rachael finally became the wife of Jacob. Working for the “family rate” in our family has come to mean for free. Photography session, carpentry skills and medical advice have been shared for the “family rate”. There is
There is however negotiation of the rate and ‘free’ services can be an exchange of services as an extra hand for a garden project is exchanged for babysitting. At other times, as we see here when one is in need of the services and the other needs an income that has to be negotiated too. Not all family support should be free.
With the increasing interaction of people from different cultures these family negotiations can require some understanding of cultural biases too. What I don’t see from this passage is a stormy discussion or not speaking to each other due to misunderstandings but a continued period of negotiation and a result that all can live with. A lesson to be learned!
Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for the understanding we see in the bible to help us with everyday interactions. Help us today to continue to talk and understand our families as they grow. Amen.
CrossWalk 