Mandrakes, according to the dictionary, is a kind
of fruit that helps with conception. No wonder when Reuben found some and came
to give to Leah his mother, Rachel asked to have some. She probably had hoped
that this mandrake would increase her fertility. Of course Leah took advantage
of the situation. She accused Rachel of stealing the affection of Jacob that
she felt was rightly hers. Leah had entirely forgotten that she was an
accomplice with the dad in deceiving Jacob. She had knowingly masqueraded as
Rachel on her wedding night to make Jacob believe that he was marrying her sister.
Now she had the audacity to accuse Rachel of stealing her husband. It could
well be that Rachel took advantage of Jacob’s love for her and prevented him
from going to Leah. Now that her son came in with the mandrakes she used it to
bargain for her conjugal right. So Leah got her night with Jacob and Rachel got
the mandrakes.
The Bible makes it quite clear that their
fertility had no link with mandrakes. It was probably a myth that both the
sisters bought into. For it was the Lord who had opened their wombs. We are
told in verse 17 explicitly that it was God who “…gave heed to Leah, and she
conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.” So she named her son Issachar, meaning
wages. For it was with the mandrakes that she bought a night with Jacob, and
that had helped her to conceive Issachar. Leah again conceived the sixth son
and named him Zebulun. She obviously had hope that she would win her husband’s
love now that she had given him six sons. Then she gave birth to a daughter
named Dinah.
Verse 22 suggests that Rachel had been praying for a child. And God remembered her and answered her petition. So we read in verse 22 that says, “God gave heed to her and opened her womb.” She conceived and gave birth to a son at last. And she named him Joseph, for God had taken away her reproach. And her wish was for God to give her another son. And God indeed added to her by giving her Benjamin. The Bible made it abundantly clear that God was behind their births, pure and simple. The two sisters had children because God blessed them. It was all grace in operation. From the tussle of the sisters for Jacob’s love, God used it to fulfil His plan to multiply the descendants of Abraham, and truly God had worked out all things for good. And surely He will also work out all things for us who loved Him and are called to fulfil His purpose.
Verse 22 suggests that Rachel had been praying for a child. And God remembered her and answered her petition. So we read in verse 22 that says, “God gave heed to her and opened her womb.” She conceived and gave birth to a son at last. And she named him Joseph, for God had taken away her reproach. And her wish was for God to give her another son. And God indeed added to her by giving her Benjamin. The Bible made it abundantly clear that God was behind their births, pure and simple. The two sisters had children because God blessed them. It was all grace in operation. From the tussle of the sisters for Jacob’s love, God used it to fulfil His plan to multiply the descendants of Abraham, and truly God had worked out all things for good. And surely He will also work out all things for us who loved Him and are called to fulfil His purpose.
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