Genesis 30:1-24
Genesis 30:1-24
Yesterday we read, “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.” Today’s passage opens and a lot has changed, “Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”
What started as a gushy romance novel, has now turned into a Jerry Springer. Genesis 30 opens with a shot. Rachel’s envy is understandable although we cannot call it, or the events to follow, “good.”
Jacob had tricked Esau, he then tricked Isaac and actually received the family blessing. Unfortunately for Jacob, you can’t con a con man, and Laban was nobody’s fool. Now, as we read Genesis 30, we see the consequences of all this deception and the mishandling of God’s blessing.
Yesterday, Jacob fathered the first four of his 12 sons through Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. In Rachel’s envy, she made Jacob take her servant Bilhah. This kind of surrogacy was a fairly common ancient practice. However, like with Sarah before, this wasn’t an act showing dependency on God’s covenant promise, but rather, taking matters into one’s own hands.
Bilhah bore Dan and Naphtali. Leah, not to be outdone, gave Jacob her servant, Zilpah, who bore Gad and Asher. Then, in a strange little story, Rachel sold the marriage bed to Leah for some of her mandrakes. From this sale, Leah bore Issachar and then later Zebulun. Finally, verse 22 says, “God remembered Rachel'' and she bore Joseph.
When God told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, it seems unlikely that he thought his grandson would try to conquer that feat on his own. Joking aside, although we see sin and the consequences of sin in this chapter, God doesn’t waste any of it. Through this twisted series of events, God would build a nation.
As I read this story, I’m reminded of a few things. First, as Tim used to always say, “Life just goes better when you do it God’s way.” There is so much craftiness and maneuvering in this passage. So many people seek their own interests. Do you see where it leads? It leads to hurt, anger, and bitterness.
The second thing we see is that God’s plans will not be thwarted. God’s promises were ultimately fulfilled through the craziness of these events. It’s hard to label these events as “good, right, or best” but they didn’t surprise God and God didn’t waste it. Each son would become a tribe and the tribes of Israel were stewards of God’s promises through whom the Messiah would come.
Have you ever felt like you messed up so bad that God couldn’t use you?
How does this passage encourage you?
By: Tyler Short
Yesterday we read, “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.” Today’s passage opens and a lot has changed, “Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”
What started as a gushy romance novel, has now turned into a Jerry Springer. Genesis 30 opens with a shot. Rachel’s envy is understandable although we cannot call it, or the events to follow, “good.”
Jacob had tricked Esau, he then tricked Isaac and actually received the family blessing. Unfortunately for Jacob, you can’t con a con man, and Laban was nobody’s fool. Now, as we read Genesis 30, we see the consequences of all this deception and the mishandling of God’s blessing.
Yesterday, Jacob fathered the first four of his 12 sons through Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. In Rachel’s envy, she made Jacob take her servant Bilhah. This kind of surrogacy was a fairly common ancient practice. However, like with Sarah before, this wasn’t an act showing dependency on God’s covenant promise, but rather, taking matters into one’s own hands.
Bilhah bore Dan and Naphtali. Leah, not to be outdone, gave Jacob her servant, Zilpah, who bore Gad and Asher. Then, in a strange little story, Rachel sold the marriage bed to Leah for some of her mandrakes. From this sale, Leah bore Issachar and then later Zebulun. Finally, verse 22 says, “God remembered Rachel'' and she bore Joseph.
When God told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, it seems unlikely that he thought his grandson would try to conquer that feat on his own. Joking aside, although we see sin and the consequences of sin in this chapter, God doesn’t waste any of it. Through this twisted series of events, God would build a nation.
As I read this story, I’m reminded of a few things. First, as Tim used to always say, “Life just goes better when you do it God’s way.” There is so much craftiness and maneuvering in this passage. So many people seek their own interests. Do you see where it leads? It leads to hurt, anger, and bitterness.
The second thing we see is that God’s plans will not be thwarted. God’s promises were ultimately fulfilled through the craziness of these events. It’s hard to label these events as “good, right, or best” but they didn’t surprise God and God didn’t waste it. Each son would become a tribe and the tribes of Israel were stewards of God’s promises through whom the Messiah would come.
Have you ever felt like you messed up so bad that God couldn’t use you?
How does this passage encourage you?
By: Tyler Short
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