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The stone has been rolled away

How does Leah and Rachel point us to Jesus Christ, from the Old Testament?

Scripture

Jacob marries Leah and Rachel.

It is good to read the entire chapter of Genesis 29 before considering the following types and shadows, it helps with the context and the overall view that points us to Christ.

Genesis 29:10

Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

Genesis 29:16-17

Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.

Type and shadow

Jacob had just had a dream about angels decending and ascending. We could say that in context of this, Jacob is God's messenger, the stone must be rolled away that the flock of Laban may be watered.

Laban had two daughters. Here we could say that Leah is a stand-in for Israel and Rachel the Church. It is interesting that "Leah's eyes were weak", just as Israel was blinded to the coming of the Messiah, and that "Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance", just as the Church is that contains the whole flock of God, assembled by the servant of God, Jesus Christ the good shepherd.

Study of connections

On reading this, our minds should find familiarity in that the stone that Jacob had to roll away that there is access for Laban's sheep to live. Similarly, the stone of the tomb, where Jesus was buried must be rolled away that living water may flow for the flock of God to be watered, that they may live eternally.

John 7:37-39

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Luke 24:1-3

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

The stone has indeed been rolled away and the flock are watered.

Revelation 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Sources

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.