INTRODUCTION: This chapter reads like an ancient eastern "soap opera." The contents of Scripture differ, however, from man's often sordid literature, in that all of it is spiritually beneficial [II Timothy 3:16].I. FRUSTRATION - verses 1-2.
Rachel comes across here in a poor light. She was guilty of:
A. Envy - How sad when God's blessings upon another make us unhappy. We understand that eastern women burned with a desire for children. To be barren was a great cause for grief. To be miserable because her sister was blessed was, however, a sinful and ungrateful state. She forgot God's blessings upon herself and resented His blessings upon Leah. Envy is a work of the flesh [Galatians 5:19-21].B. Despair - Rachael should have trusted in the goodness of God's providence, rather than wishing for death. When has God ever mistreated His children?
C. Unbelief - Only God can give children [Psalm 127:3]. How foolish was her demand to Jacob. Jacob's response was harsh but true. One wonders why they had not learned from the histories of Sarah and Rebekah. Isaac and Rebekah seem to have been the only couple of the patriarchs who manifested consistent faith in this matter [Genesis 25:21].
II. MORE SCHEMES - verses 3-13.
Noteworthy lessons:
A. Rachel and Leah both display a sad lack of faith in the use of their schemes to produce children. Faith is based on God's Word (Romans 10:17). Certainly they had heard of God's promise to Abraham and His blessing upon Abraham and Isaac. This was nothing but unbelief.B. Notice here the power of influence. Rachel sins and others follow her example. Even the handmaids are drawn into the matter. We are not islands. Our influence for good or evil is greater than we know.
C. Men's schemes do not thwart God's purposes. Man sins, but God produces the tribes of Israel. The death of Christ was predestined by God, yet carried out by man's scheme [Acts 2:23].
III. THE EVIL OF POLYGAMY - verses 14-21.
Mandrakes were thought to enhance fertility. Rachel's desire for children caused her to barter her husband's time for them. This sad story illustrates the evil of polygamy. Life in such a family is filled with jealousy, envy, neglect, and unfulfillment. Even the children are drawn into the strife. How far short this falls from God's plan for marriage [Ephesians 5:33].IV. GOD'S GOODNESS - verses 22-24.
We are pleased to see Rachel give God the credit for His blessing. She seems also to have had an inner assurance that God would give her another child [Psalm 113:9].V. JACOB REAPING - verses 25-26.
For twenty-one years Jacob, the supplanter, lived with Laban the cheat. Surely God was teaching Jacob the evil of deceit. There is, however, in Jacob's life some positive things to be said:A. He was a diligent worker and was blessed of God in his work. Laban knew well that his prosperity was a result of Jacob's labor. Sadly, Laban tried to keep Jacob from obtaining any personal benefit.
B. Jacob's plan seems to have been based on the simple belief that God would bless him. With the cattle of mixed color removed there was little chance of him having many young that he could call his own. Jacob believed, however, that God could cause solid-colored animals to have young of mixed coloration.
VI. JACOB PROSPERS - verses 37-43.
Jacob evidently believed that whatever breeding animals saw would affect the color of their offspring. This was probably just a mistaken belief, common at that time. At any rate it was God Who caused the animals to bear spotted and ringstraked young.
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