What's Up With Jacob?

I read this passage and thought I'd share it. It's Genesis 29:16-30 (NIV):

"Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." Laban said, "It's better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me." So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her." So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant. When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?" Laban replied, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work." And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant. Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years."

OK. What's up with Jacob? Here's a guy who spent 7 YEARS getting to know Rachel. Then in one evening is able to be tricked into sleeping with her sister. How does that happen?

Furthermore, why all the secrecy? I am really be believe that after 7 YEARS of hanging out with Laban, Jacob didn't get to know their customs? Why didn't Rachel say anything? Didn't she love Jacob back?

Finally, Laban was a master deceitful negotiator in this instance. He managed to have both his daughters married and get an extra 7 years worth of work out of Jacob. I am shocked that Jacob let himself be taken advantage like that.

It's when I read passages like this I need to remember that God indeed had a bigger plan, and that this was all necessary. It's just that sometimes He goes about it in such a round-about away, that doesn't seem to make a bunch of sense.

That's all I've got. It's just weird to an untrained eye like myself. I wish I knew more about the circumstance so I could fully understand what happened here.

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