# 28 2023 Dev. Gen.30:2. A Dysfunctional Home Life! Read all of chapter thirty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Gen.30:2 “ Jacob became angry with her (Rachel) and said, ‘Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?’”
Gen.30 This chapter tells us where Laban’s deception has taken his family. God’s blessed Jacob’s work and Laban’s flock increased exponentially, he wanted to keep Jacob around. Tensions increased when God allowed Leah to bear children and Rachel did not bear any in the five years since the marriage. In those days barrenness was considered the worst curse on women. Jealously was not only on Leah’s part, because Jacob loved Rachel more but Rachel was jealous of her sister’s children. Jacob’s household was one in conflict.
Vs.1-8 Rachel demanded children from Jacob, hence his reply, “am I in the place of God?” In Nigeria, where polygamy is common, the second wife and consequent wives are referred to as “mai Kishia”, one of jealousy. In desperation Rachel did what Sarah did, she gave her handmaid to Jacob, a common and legal arrangement in the day. She bore Jacob two sons, Rachel’s response, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.”
Vs.9-24 Leah, not to be outdone gave her maidservant to Jacob as well. She also bore two sons. Jacob seems to be ok with all this, but then, children, especially sons in that day were God’s gifts, “happy is the man whose quiver is full.” When Ruben, Leah’s eldest come home with mandrakes plants Rachal wanted them. Mandrakes were thought to increase fertility. She got them by allowing Jacob to sleep with Leah, Rachel, apparently dictated who would sleep with whom. “God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant…” twice in a row and had two more sons. Leah’s response, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor…” Later she also bore a daughter, Dinah. But God did not forget Rachel. “She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, ‘God has taken away my disgrace.’”
Vs.25-36 Jacob had fulfilled his promise of fourteen years and wanted to return to his own land. But Laban, practiced divination and besides, what he had seen with his own eyes, wanted more of the blessings God bestowed on his family because of Jacob. “What shall I give you? He asked.” Jacob’s answer, “every speckled or spotted goat.” Laban, agreed but that day he removed all the speckled and colored goats from his flock and sent them away in the care of his sons.
Vs.37-43 but Jacob also practiced some kind of divination, or witchcraft in order to outsmart Laban. Jacob was not dependent on God, not yet. He thought to outwit Laban with his witchcraft using the pealed branches. It seemed to work for him but only because God was directing his path, the results would have been the same without the pealed branches. That is what this chapter is about, God controls our lives in spite of us and blesses in his own way. Thanks be to God.
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