Repeated phrases:
(1) Jealous v.1, bear children for me v.3, God has vindicated me v.6, I have fought a desperate struggle with my sister, but I have won v.8
The 2 sisters ran into a fight of who has more children with Jacob and they both gave their servant to their husbands in order to win.
30:9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife.
Leah already had 4 sons while Rachel only got 2 sons from her servants, Bilah v.8. She was so insecure and thought that she had to catch up with the race and gave her servant to Jacob.In other words, they both did everything they could to win that competition.
Rachel wanted to get a hold of the mandrake plant so that she might got pregnant and she gave up Jacob for 1 night for that.
“All right,” Rachel said, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
(NET) Mandrake plants were popularly believed to be an aphrodisiac (a food, drink, or drug that stimulates sexual desire) in the culture of the time.
(NET) The irony is that Rachel thought the mandrakes would work for her, and she was willing to trade one night for them. But in that one night Leah became pregnant.
(2) God is the One who gives the woman their ability to have conception. Jacob, Rachel and Leah knew about this fact.
v.2 Jacob became furious with Rachel and exclaimed, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”
v.6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer and given me a son.”
30:17 God paid attention to Leah; she became pregnant
Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant.
Reflection: Everyone acknowledged the fact that God was in control and gave children to us. However, they all tried to manipulate God and won the competition because of their jealousy. In number, Leah won way ahead of Rachel and should have felt pretty safe, but she fell into the temptation.
What has jealousy done to you? Do you try to manipulate God even though you know that God is in control? Do you trust God for the thing you have already prayed to God?
This happened to me this morning. I ordered through Instantcart groceries and went to pick them up this morning in Cub. I knew one of the items was replaced with another option that I did not like. I tried to fix it with my app, but was unsuccessful. I prayed on my way to Cub and asked God to help. When I arrived the manager on the phone refused to help. I was so upset and raised my voice way up.
I confessed to God because I had prayed and I ended up losing my temper.
(FYI, later when I called I did got my credit back from Instantcart).
Audrey
2026
Overview: (BKC) Each name was interpreted by Leah or Rachel to reflect concrete family conditions at the price of the pious substance which they had as testimonies to God as the Giver of Life...
God prospered Jacob and started to make from him a great nation...
God chose the despised mother, Leah, and exalted her to be the first mother. The kingly tribe of Judah and the priestly tribe of Levi trace back to her, in spite of Jacob’s love for Rachel and her son Joseph.
1. Comparison of Leah and Rachel for how they respond to God
29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless. 32 So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now.”
v.1b She said to Jacob, “Give me children or I’ll die!” 2 Jacob became furious with Rachel and exclaimed, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” 3 She replied, “Here is my servant Bilhah! Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I can have a family through her.”
Both of them may have their mind on winning over the love of their husband or winning in having more children. However, Leah knew the LORD and gave Him the credit when she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. On the other hand, even Jacob had told her that God was the one who kept her from having children Rachel did not seek after God. Instead, she found her own solution-giving her servant to Jacob and had a family through her.
Later on, Rachel was not satisfied with her own arrangement. She still longed for having children herself v.14 and wanted to have the mandrake plants.
(BKC) Rachel’s sons through Bilhah do not reflect the faith Leah had. Rachel felt wronged over her barrenness. Her effort to have children through her maidservant reflects Sarah’s similar attempt with Hagar (16:1–4)
Reflection: Am I like Rachel and try to avoid God and find my own solution even I was told that seeking God is the only solution? Do I trust in my own way better than trusting God alone to help me?
The unsatisfaction of Rachel served as a warning for those who think their ways are better than trusting God alone.
2. Rachel's and Leah's prayer were answered
5 Bilhah became pregnant and gave Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer and given me a son.”
22 Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant.
17 God paid attention to Leah; she became pregnant
Same verb in all 3 verses. In other word, both of them prayed and God answered them. Even Rachel used her own way she prayed for her own way to work. The truth is, God did not need her way. He can make her pregnant by herself.
(BKC) Finally Rachel gave birth to Joseph (yôsēp̱) but not by the mandrakes. This shows that births are given by God, not manipulated by people.
Reflection: Do I trust both my own way AND God? Can I trust that God alone is sufficient?
Comments