When God Allows What We Didn’t Expect
Genesis 28:1–2 (NLT) tells us that Isaac blessed Jacob and gave him clear direction: “You must not marry any of these Canaanite women… go at once… and take a wife from your own family.” Jacob wasn’t out there guessing. He was sent. Covered. Directed by God through his father. And when he got there, to Paddan-aram where his family was, he met Rachel—and everything in him said this is it. So he committed. Seven years of work just to marry her. And Scripture even tells us those years felt like only days because of how much he loved her. It looked right. It felt right. But just because something feels right doesn’t mean everything about it is aligned.
When What You Thought You Secured Slips
Then comes the part nobody plans for. Genesis 29:23–25 (NLT) says, “But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her…But when Jacob woke up in the morning–it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?” Imagine that. You gave your time, your effort, your commitment… and wake up realizing what you thought you secured isn’t what you got. That kind of moment will shake you. Not just emotionally—but spiritually. Because now you’re left trying to process how something that felt so right turned out so different.
But here’s where we have to be honest—Jacob wasn’t new to deception. Before this, he had already taken his brother Esau’s blessing through manipulation. So now, the same thing he once operated in… he’s experiencing. And this is where we have to slow down, because not every delay is just about the wrong person or the wrong situation. Sometimes it’s God allowing something to surface so we can see what’s still off in us. Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NLT) says, “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.” That includes us. That includes the parts of us we don’t always want to look at.
When God’s Process Matters More Than Your Plan
Jacob still received Rachel—but it cost him more than he expected. Fourteen years instead of seven. Not because God changed His mind, but because the process wasn’t complete. Proverbs 19:21 (NLT) says, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” Jacob had a plan. God had a process. And that process went deeper than a marriage—it was about shaping his character, breaking old patterns, and aligning his heart with God’s purposes. He had to learn patience, integrity, and trust, because you can’t carry old ways—manipulation, impatience, shortcuts—into new promises and expect them to last. The blessing waited, but God used the wait to prepare him to receive it fully.
That’s why seeking God first isn’t just something we say—it’s something we live. Matthew 6:33 (NLT) tells us, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Not after we’ve already chosen. Not after we’ve gotten attached. First. Because when we move ahead of God, we open ourselves up to things that look like promise but come with confusion, weight, and unnecessary delay. And if we’re honest, some of the things we call “the enemy” started with us not pausing to ask God first.
God Is Shaping More Than You See
At the end of the day, this was never just about Leah or Rachel. This was about who Jacob was becoming. God wasn’t just giving him a wife—He was shaping a man who would carry a covenant. And He’ll do the same with us. Because what God gives, He intends to last. But if we’re not aligned, we won’t be able to sustain it. So sometimes what feels like delay… is actually protection. Sometimes it’s correction. And sometimes it’s God saying, I love you too much to let you step into this the wrong way. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Deception That Looked Like Delay”, written by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.