Genesis 30:14-24 – Ultimately God’s purpose will be accomplished

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. 

Genesis 30:1-13 – Watch out, don’t be manipulative

With Jacob, Leah had given birth to four sons while Rachel had none. Every birth of a son by Leah must have brought great agony of soul to Rachel. Envy must have got the better of her. To add to her misery, Leah must have sneered at her infertility. And that must have frustrated and brought about fear of losing Jacob’s affection toward her. The name of each of Leah’s son brought about a sense of false feeling that she could be losing grip of Jacob. As long as she remained barren, she would feel less than a useful partner to Jacob. For after all, didn’t God promise to bless Jacob with plenty of descendants and through them to bless the world?

However, barrenness or fertility can be traced to the hand of God.  He is the source and giver of life. It is He who opens up or closes wombs. But God was furthest from her mind at this point. So coming to Jacob, she vexed and nagged him saying, “Give me children, or else I die.” What she did was inviting a rebuke by Jacob. So he told her angrily “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” Indeed, children are a blessing from God as Psalm 127:3 so rightly says, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”

Despite his rebuke Rachel took matters into her own hand. She decided to use her maid Bilhah to be a surrogate for her. In so doing, Rachel tossed aside all ideals and up the game of birth. In hoping to catch up with Leah through Bilhah, she had entirely forgotten the Sarah-Hagar debacle. Rachel’s strategy was a fabulous success. In quick succession, Bilhah bore her two sons – Dan and Naphtali. She felt vindicated for that is the meaning of Dan, and even attributed the birth of this first child by Bilhah to God. She was certain God was setting things aright for her. The second son Bilhah gave birth to was named Naphtali meaning “wrestlings”. Rachel felt that she had wrestled with Leah and prevailed.

Leah, refusing to back down, put up a fight. In a tick-for-tack fashion, she used Zilpah her maid as a surrogate as well. And she gave birth to two sons with Jacob namely, Gad, meaning good fortune, and Asher, meaning happy. With these two sons it was 6 to 2. She was still winning that’s why she named one, good fortune, and she was more than happy to call the second, Asher, for she had once again triumph in the game of birth. Ever wonder why Jacob allowed himself to be manipulated by his two wives? We will never know the answer, but we know that through it God’s plan of increasing his descendants was slowly but surely being fulfilled.  

In a very real sense, Jacob’s family was in a mess. Envy, jealousy, pride and spite were all present. From their lives, we should be put on alert to what heinous sin of man’s fallen nature can get us into.  Know it or not, one sin will always trigger others. Can we eliminate it completely? The answer is no! Can we reduce its frequency? The answer is yes! And we do so by making God the top priority of our life and not self-interest. We must seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things we need in life will be put in place!        

Genesis 29:31-35 – Trusting God to know what we need

God’s intention for marriage, without a doubt, is for a “one-man-one-wife” model. It is clearly seen in the fact that He only created one woman for Adam. Furthermore, the implication of His instruction to Adam is for a man to cleave to his wife to become one, suggests that monogamy was on His mind. The polygamous model was the result of the degeneration of man. Even in Genesis, we see no shortage of the illustrations of the disharmony that polygamous relationship had brought into the family. Abraham listened to his wife and married Hagar. This is a grim reminder of what more than one wife can do to bring disunity to an otherwise harmonious family. What about Esau, who married two Hittite women and then further married an Ishmaelite woman, injuring parental-son relationship. While Jacob’s polygamous relationship was a deception caused by his uncle, and no fault of his, it nonetheless spelt disaster right from the start. Like it or not, polygamy clearly violates covenantal faithfulness. Christ’s relationship with the church, His bride, best sums up the monogamous love relationship God desires, even in marriage.

We now come to Jacob’s life. Though it was not his choice he became the victim of his father-in-law’s scheme. His duplicity had caught up with him and its time he drank of its bitter medicine. Here he was at the mercy of Laban his uncle. He had two wives who were sisters. The one who was not his choice, masquerading as the one he loved on his wedding night, and stole his affection. The one he truly loved, had at best become a second wife. This pair of sister-wives would use the birth of their own or surrogate children, to insult or celebrate to gain say over the other. The mess this multiple relationship had created would play itself out in the course of time.

Meanwhile, God was at work to fulfil the Abrahamic covenant. The Lord brought about the 12 tribes of Israel out Jacob’s four wives. The patriarch himself would not have guessed that he would father 12 sons. If anything Jacob could recall, it must be God’s reiteration that his descendants shall be as numerous as the dusts of the earth and that they shall be a blessing to the earth. We shall see that his children would come in three sets of four: Leah gave birth to the first four, then the maids of the two sisters, Zilpah and Bilhah, gave birth to four. To make up the 12, Leah gave birth to two more and Rachel gave birth to the other two, making the last set of four.   

The ability to conceive is described here as divine initiation. We get the impression that God had been working behind the scene to bring about the fulfilment of His plan. He closed up the womb of Rachel while opening up that of Leah. While Jacob worked his socks out to pay off the seven years for Rachel, the older sister was giving birth to try to win his love. Just imagine two desperate wives – one desperate for the husband’s love and the other desperate for a child.  

The names given to the four sons of Leah revealed her hope for Jacob’s love. She had hoped that with the birth of Reuben, the first son, Jacob would love her. And with the birth of Simeon, her hope for Jacob’s love went higher. This supposed that despite the birth of Reuben, she did not get what she had hoped. In naming her third son Levi, she cherished the hope that Jacob would be more attached to her. For the name Levi means attachment. She went from longing for love to just the longing for Jacob’s attachment. But at the birth of Judah, she must have given up hope of ever gaining Jacob’s affection over that of Rachel. Naming this forth son Judah was telling. She had finally come to accept and be thankful for whatever she had been blessed. So she called him Judah, meaning praise. Nothing can be more settling in life than to be thankful to God for all that we have. Having hope is great but accepting God’s plan is needful. We must place our hope in Him. And while waiting for the outcome, we must thankfully praise Him.    

Genesis 29:15-30 – What goes around comes around

Laban, Jacob’s uncle, was a street smart man. Though Jacob was a conniver, he was no match for his uncle. Laban had two daughters – Rachel and Leah. Of the two, Rachel was the beauty whereas Leah, to put it more aptly, was dreamy because of her weak eyes. Since beauty is more appealing to the eyes, Jacob fell in love with Rachel. Jacob was so mesmerized by Rachel’s beauty that he failed to see the bait in his negotiation with Laban. Craftily, the uncle got him to work for him enthusiastically because he knew Jacob would do anything just to get Rachel. He was outwitted. Laban had truly taken advantage of Jacob’s love for Rachel. What happened to Jacob is a reminder to us to think soberly. We should never be so overwhelmed by a passion for someone, other than the Lord, that we become oblivious to what is unreasonable. If there is one person we should passionately love in life, it must be our Lord Jesus. Let us be prepared to channel our energy to passionately serve Him with much greater enthusiasm. Just as Rachel was Jacob’s motivation, let the love for our Lord Jesus be our motivation in service.

How quickly the seven years must have passed. With something he was looking forward to passionately, time zipped past Jacob so rapidly. Seven years to get Rachel was not too much. In fact those seven years seemed to him like a few days because of his love for her. And when the last day of the seven years was up, he came to claim his prize. He would not even wait a minute longer, his desire for Rachel was at pitch high. We can imagine him coming unabashedly and excitedly to Laban to claim his possession. The wedding was deliberately planned. It was usually celebrated for a week. Laban was up to his tricks again. Evidently, he used the bridal veil, the darkness of the night and the effect of the celebration wine to his advantage. Instead of giving Rachel to Jacob as he had agreed, he gave Leah to his nephew under the cover of all the above.   

Jacob woke up in the glow of the morning sun only to discover that he was deceived. We can imagine him whispering Rachel’s name deliriously throughout the night, while Leah who must have fallen in love with him, played the role of Rachel with passion. With the consummation done, there was no way to reverse what had taken place. Leah was now his wife. His only recourse was to confront the conniving uncle who was quick to come up with logical explanation. The older must precede the younger in marriage. That was their custom. And Laban had used it to his advantage. For the first time, Jacob must have known how it felt to be deceived. Note how he put it to his uncle in verse 25, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why then have you deceived me?” The word “deceived” sounded familiar. Wasn’t this the same word used to describe what he did to Esau when he stole his birthright? The cock had returned to roost. What goes around always comes around.

Laban was not satisfied with seven years of Jacob’s life. Knowing that he would do anything to get Rachel, Laban consented to let him have Rachel after the one week of celebration was over. But Jacob would have to serve him for another seven years. He got Rachel and then willingly or grudgingly, served his due of seven more years. The story of course was far more complicated as we shall see. For in the two marriages, Laban gave to both the daughters their maids, Zilpah and Bilhah respectively, as well. They would soon add to the intriguing saga of Jacob’s home. The older-younger sibling conflict that he had with Esau when his life began, had literally followed him in the form of his wives. How complicating things can get with polygamy! No wonder monogamy is still the better model and should stay that way. It’s a better reflection of commitment and faithfulness in life. To the married, let us stay faithful and committed to our spouse! 

Genesis 29:9-14 – Seizing the God-moment in life

Rachel was a shepherdess leading her sheep to the well for water. On seeing her the other shepherds quickly pointed her out to Jacob, as if to cut short the conversation with him. They must have felt that he was interrupting their rest. Rachel was the younger of Laban’s two daughters. The meaning of her name is “ewe lamb.” She was a lamb that was leading other lambs. On seeing her, the gallantry of Jacob came to the fore. Some believe this to be love at first sight in display. More than that, his action showed that he was sure God had finally guided him to where he ought to be. The action was a show of joy.

The next we read is, “When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted his voice and wept.” While it was a communal effort when it comes to removing the cover of the well, Jacob’s emotion got the better of him, He yanked away the stone single-handedly. What he did must have left the other shepherds aghast! He then proceeded to water the sheep she had led to the well. When the sheep were watered he then planted a kiss on Rachel and wept aloud. It was not a sexual suggestion. It was a case of Jacob being overwhelmed by emotion on seeing a distant relative after such a long, lonely and arduous journey. He then introduced himself. What took place was just the unfolding of God’s promise to him at Bethel. He was led to where he should be. 

What Jacob did must have left Rachel astounded. She immediately ran and told her father about it. On hearing the news of Jacob’s arrival, Laban ran to meet him, embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. For all he was his sister’s son. Fresh on his mind must be the tidy sum of riches he had gotten from Eleazer, who came for the hand of his sister on Isaac’s behalf. The kiss he gave to his distant nephew must be more than inviting. When Jacob told him everything, he exclaimed, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” And Jacob stayed with him a month. Laban must have sized Jacob up from the brief conversation he had with him. He must be a shrewd man, astute at reading character. Here Jacob met his match. The nephew was probably off-guarded for after all he was away from home and in need of a place to stay. So he didn’t think too much of what was looming from the hand of Laban.

It could well be that the encounter Jacob had with God at Bethel had some impact on his life. The vision he had of the ladder, and the promise God made to him, must have all brought out of him some degree of mellowness. We can say that God was directing the business of his life. He did not expect it but the unseen hand of God was certainly at work in his life. Jacob needed to be trained. He still lacked spiritual depth. His carnality needed to be trimmed. For humility and compassion to be built in him, he needed some discomforting experiences and pain. With trials, he would soon have to deal with them with perseverance. And perseverance would bring character and with character comes hope. Hope would never disappoint.

Like Jacob, our relationship with God will bring conflicts. Conflicts will produce constancy. Constancy will shape our character, and character will help us to see clearly the plan God has for our life. Beloved, we are in God’s wonderful hand. We are not yet what we ought to be. But we shall be like Him, when we see Him as He is!             

Genesis 29:1-8 – God will lead us in the journey of life

Running away from his brother, Jacob stopped at Luz where he later named Bethel. The dream he had was God affirming him as the successor to the Abrahamic Covenant. The vision he saw in his dream was God’s affirming promise of His presence with him for the rest of his journey.  The presence of God in his life was by no means an indication that his life was complete. In reality he was still a work in progress. We saw how alive the old Jacob was, despite the revelation of God in the dream. He was still bargaining with God. His selfish, carnal, me-first perspective was very much alive. So he said in Genesis 28:20-22, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Notice the number of times he mentioned the “I” and “me.” With this attitude he made his journey to Haran. What would soon take place was educational for him. God was shaping his life, equipping him and honing him to be the man who would be ready to take the Abrahamic Covenant further.  

With the assurance of God, Jacob went on his journey with greater certainty. He must have been more assured with each step he took toward Haran and finally arrived. It would not be too speculative to believe that Rebekah, his mother, must have told him on many occasions how she became his father’s bride. She must have narrated how she offered that drink to Eleazar, the grandfather’s servant, and then went on to water his camels. And how all she did became affirmation of God’s guidance, leading to her eventual marriage to Isaac. This account can be found in Genesis 24.  

It was not uncommon for shepherds to gather around wells to water their sheep. When Jacob had arrived, he found a well in the field and three flocks of sheep and their shepherds probably lazing around the well. The mouth of the well was covered by a large stone obviously to prevent the water from being contaminated. None of the shepherds seemed to bother with his presence till he courteously enquired where they were from. They then responded saying that they were from Haran. Jacob then proceeded with his next question: ‘Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?’ When they said they did, he then asked if everything was well with him and was told Laban was well. And as providence would have it, Rachel, one of the daughters of Laban, arrived at the well. As it was not time for the cover of the well to be removed the shepherds just lazed around. On seeing the arrival of Rachel, Jacob advised them to go about their job. But they explained that only when all the flocks were gathered would the watering of the sheep begin. Why was Jacob so assertive once Rachel arrived? Perhaps he was scheming to get some time alone with her. More than his concern for the shepherds, Jacob was strategizing for his own gain. This account shows us the remarkable way God led Jacob to Haran and eventually to meet with his bride. While Jacob was scheming, God was engineering his future. We can trust the Lord to work out His plan for our life. We do need to take note of the little details to be alert to His working, and then to collaborate with Him.    

Genesis 28:16-22 – The ladder to God’s presence

When Jacob woke up from that sleep he was at once both fearful and astonished. He was probably amazed because he was so engrossed in the problem of his own making that he had no time to think about God. Especially when the fault laid with him. Isn’t this what we would naturally do when we are so deeply entrenched in our troubles and drowned ceaselessly by needless thoughts? We’ll be surprised that God is ever present. He promises never to leave us nor forsake us. So amazed by God that Jacob became fearful and declared, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

The vision of the ladder to heaven must have inspired his declaration. Two things worth our reflection: the house of God and the gate of heaven. The house is the very presence of God and the gate is the entrance to that presence. Jacob only realized the access to God’s presence when he was all alone in the wilderness. As believers we should know that God’s presence is with us no matter where we are. He is always available to us when we turn to Him whether in lonely or crowded places.  

The next thing Jacob did was to worship. So early the next morning, he took the stone he had rested his head upon, set up an altar and poured oil on its top. Then he named the place Bethel, meaning the house of God. The place was previously known as Luz. What he had experienced must become examples for us to consider. The fear, the amazement, the declaration and the worship are experiences worthy of our emulation when we are confronted by a holy God. While all these are worthy of our emulation, the conditions he set for God are not. The two words “if” and “then” become a bargain with God. 

Jacob bargained with God. He said in verses  20-22, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear,  and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God.  This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” The way Jacob put these conditions was not an expression of total faith in God. The “if” and the “then” are not the vocabularies of faith. When we have faith in God we don’t bargain with Him. But the unbridled grace made God accept Jacob as he was. At this point, Jacob was still a work in progress. Just like Jacob we are all also a work in progress. Though we may not articulate our condition as loudly as Jacob, in practice that’s what we often do. How often have we put conditions to our prayers as if to arm-twist God into answering our prayers? Bear in mind that the God we serve is no man’s debtor. In Jesus he has poured out on us grace upon grace.  

What amazed Jacob, our Lord Jesus provided the interpretation. In response to Nathanael’s faith, the Lord Jesus said in John 1:51, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” In Him, the angels ascended and descended on. We see it in the records of His life, death, resurrection and ascension. In Him the Bethel of old is now superseded. God now reveals Himself in Jesus. When He dwells in us, there is nowhere we can go where the presence of God will not be there. Like Jacob we may be running away because of our sin, we think that leaving church will make us less guilty. God with His unbridled grace still waits for us as He had appeared to Jacob. The ladder that Jacob saw is found in Christ. In Him, the fullness of God dwells bodily. And we are complete in Him!