The dysfunction of Jacob’s family
The dysfunction of Jacob’s family seems to know no bounds.
Reuben, the eldest son gives his mother Leah mandrakes, and look at Auntie Rachel’s reaction! We see mandrakes and bitterness…
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 30:9-15
“When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, [e]“A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad. And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.
“Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
“But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also.
“And Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.””
Fertility
It was believed in ancient times that mandrakes increased a woman’s fertility. So, Rachel is desperate for them.
Leah accuses her sister of “stealing her husband” though in actual fact, it was always Rachel who was betrothed. GOD blesses Leah with child because she is unloved — nevertheless, Leahs’ self deception and her fertility is much for Rachel to bear.
Desperate to conceive herself, Rachel gives away her beloved for a night, for a chance to conceive herself. The irony is breath-taking.
And so we see GOD’s love being contorted. His grace is distorted. A son’s devotion becomes an aunt’s despair. And the husband is used as a bargaining tool between two sisters entrapped in bitterness and envy.
GOD’s Grace in all circumstances
And yet, the LORD uses this family to bear witness to Himself. It is this family, through Leah and Jacob’s fourth son Judah, from whom Jesus is descended. It is this family from whom the Jewish nation is born. It is from this family that history is unveiled as a struggle for mankind against the devil, who is in direct competition and opposition to the GOD of the universe. We see in these two sisters, the pain, struggle, hope, anger, bitterness, love and despair that all of humanity experiences…. Because we are born in sin.
And yet, through this family line, GOD will send His salvation from that sin. The mercy of GOD knows no bounds.
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May you have a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas and I’ll write again for the New Year.
Shalom and GOD bless.