Love, indeed, can move mountains. Love has made soldiers match battlefronts. People have sacrificed everything and even passed away for love.
Speaking of love and sacrifice, no present-day love story comes close to what one gallant man went through.
The Bible has a story of Jacob - a hopeless romantic - and the sacrifices he had to make for his wives, Rachel and Leah. The sacrifices Jacob had to make are incredible. Sit up for a little recap.
Well, Jacob had a brother called Esau. They were technically twins, but Esau had emerged first - thus taken as the 'elder one'. It's said that when Jacob emerged, he's holding on to Esau's heel - like he was trying to pull him back into the womb. They were the sons of Isaac and Rebecca.
Jacob was Rebecca's favourite, quite soft and spoilt. Well, pretty much a Mama's boy - spending most of the time indoors - cooking omelettes.
Esau was quite rough and tumble Isaac's favourite. He's often outdoors, herding goats and hunting rabbits. Customarily, Esau was entitled to the lion's share of their father's blessings.
It so happened that Isaac got old, blind and senile. On his bed, before breathing his last, he calls for his sons. It was time to pass on the blessings. The world witnesses the first story of deceit. Rebecca, their mother, helps Jacob swindle Esau of all his birthrights.
Esau was boiling with rage, planning how to destroy his brother. Jacob had to go into hiding. He flees to their uncle's home - a sly, conniving fox named Laban - who had two daughters. Leah and Rachel, the younger one.
Well, Jacob tumbles head over heels in love with Rachel - and, that was the beginning of his woes.
As dowry, Jacob inks a deal with Laban. It's seven years of hard labour, for Rachel. That's mind-boggling.
Unlike most suitors today, Jacob is focused, resilient and ambitious. The seven years seem like a walk in the park.
Unbeknownst to the poor romantic, Uncle Laban has a trick up his sleeve. At the time, it was customary that elder daughters get married off first.
On the wedding day, the bride is taken to Jacob's bachelor crib - technically, a tent. Except, Laban sneaks in Leah, instead of Rachel. Jacob, somehow, is not the wiser. The marriage is consummated.
The morning after, it gets awkward. Jacob wakes up. He realises he's spent his wedding night with the wrong bride. It's Leah, not Rachel. He confronts Uncle Laban, now his father-in-law.
Jacob: Hey, what happened? That's Leah. I wanted Rachel, not Leah.
Uncle Laban: Oops. It was dark. And they use the same olive oil.
Jacob: I worked seven years for Rachel. Not Leah.
Uncle Laban: Don't worry, son. Rachel is still here - we can talk.
Jacob: Talk? How? (He's busy rolling up his sheepskins, ready to trek back home).
Uncle Laban: Work for me. Seven years. I'll give you Rachel, and Leah.
Jacob thinks for a bit. Perhaps, take a walk or something. The rolling landscape is beautiful. The sun is out and the sheep are bleating - waiting to be let out for pasture.
Jacob: "What the hell! Rachel. Rachel. Ok, I can do seven years for Rachel. It's only seven. Plus I'll have two wives."
So, Jacob digs in for a further seven years.
It's mind-boggling. In today's context - 2021 - he'd have to work all through to 2028, for Leah. Well, slam in another seven years, for Rachel. From year 2028, he'd be wrapping up in 2035. This is easy, the arithmetic. All else is hard to swallow.
Take it this way. Suppose Rachel was an 18-year-old in 2021, just out of high school. In 2035, when Jacob is done paying off his debts, she'd be 32 years old - and single!
In modern times, lots of things would have gone wrong.
Imagine, after high school, Rachel goes to Kenyatta University, living off-campus somewhere in Kahawa Wendani. A lot of apartment blocks around there have liquor stores on the ground floor. Both lead up to a recipe for disaster.
Leah, well. She'd be jealous. She'd likely create a few pseudo accounts and start exposing her sister's escapades on social media. She'd definitely tag their husband. Plus, it's likely that they'd constantly be embroiled in noisy quarrels.
It's certain, that this arrangement would end in premium tears!
