Genesis 29:20-30
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.
23 Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her…
25 So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?"
26 And Laban said, "It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years."
28 Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also…
30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.
Jacob had to work seven years for Rachel whom he loved. At the end of the seven years, after consummating the marriage, he was shocked to find out that he had slept with Leah instead. Laban had secretly given Jacob his older daughter Leah.
Jacob wasn't too happy, of course. Laban explained to him that it was not customary to give the younger before the firstborn. He then told Jacob to finish the week with Leah, and he would give Rachel as a wife to him too, on condition that Jacob served him another seven years. So Jacob finished the week with Leah and married Rachel, and worked for Laban another seven years.
Leah had weak eyes and was not pretty. Her name means "weary". She represents the law, for when you are under the heavy yoke of the law you become weary and weak. Rachel, on the other hand, was beautiful to behold. Her name means "ewe" or "female sheep". She represents grace, personified by our Lord Jesus, who is the Lamb of God.
I saw this: Under the law, works come first before the blessing -- Jacob worked seven years before he got Leah. Under grace, works follow the blessing -- Jacob received the blessing of Rachel first, and then worked another seven years for Laban. In other words, under the law, you have to work for the blessings. Under grace, you receive the blessings first, and that in turn empowers you to produce good works. This is working out of rest. This is real faith that produces good works.
Also, when you work for a blessing, when by your self-efforts you try to earn a blessing, you will probably end up with something that you don't quite like, that is of inferior quality. But when you simply receive a blessing by the grace of God, it is truly a blessing in every way.
I also saw this: Leah the firstborn had to be given first because the law came first. Israel had the law for 1,500 years before grace (Jesus) came. The Bible says that the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came (later) through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
