There are sayings; “What goes around; comes around;” or “He’s getting his just desserts.” These are modern colloquial phrases that come from a Biblical principle:
Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Jacob swindled his brother Esau out of his birthright and then later swindled him out of his blessing. He deceived his father. In fact, his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham both deceived Abimelech by saying that their wife was their sister. It would seem that the proverbial acorn does not fall to far from the tree. We need to remember that the patriarchs of the Bible were not perfect men. God didn’t record their names and detail their experiences to showcase weakness; but to show how God can be glorified through their weakness and transform it into faith that would allow God to work within them and fulfill His will. These were men who were just as human as us today.
James 5:17-18 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
The Contemporary English Version translates the above as “Elijah was just as human as we are…” And so we too are called out of weakness to be transformed by God’s Holy Spirit; transformed from our human nature into God’s divine nature; and it is a process over time. It is interesting, as we shall see, that Jacob got swindled and ends up working for his father-in-law for more than fourteen years.
Jacob goes to his mother’s people in Haran and finds the woman he that wants to marry, her name is Rachel. Her father requires that he work seven years for her. Because Jacob loves Rachel so much, the seven years seem as just days. The wedding day comes and he finds out the next day that the bride behind the veil was not Rachel, but her older sister Leah. In protest, Jacob agrees to Laban’s offer that he fulfill one week with Leah and then he will give him Rachel as well; but he has to work another seven years.
Genesis 29:25-30 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? (26) And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. (27) Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. (28) And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. (29) And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. (30) And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
Jacob agrees and so begins the saga of Jacob’s dysfunctional family that will involve children by both women and their handmaids. A half brother rivalry that will include plots of murder, incest, adultery, rape, genocide of a king and his kingdom, conspiracy and lies involving the selling of one of the brother’s into slavery. In the end what will emerge is the nation of Israel.
The wedding feast is over and so is the honeymoon for both brides. Because Rachael is Jacobs favorite, Leah is distained. God hears her plight and prevents Rachael from getting pregnant and gives Leah four sons; Rueben, Simeon, Levi and Judah captive to Egypt.
Rachel was the woman that Jacob wanted as his bride. He took Leah in protest. And so from the beginning there was a jealousy and hatred among the sisters because Jacob loved Rachel and just took Leah because he had to. God sees the hatred for Leah and blesses her.
Genesis 29:31-35 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. (32) And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. (33) And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. (34) And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. (35) And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Remember that the promises of God to Abraham were passed on down to the first born son, through Abraham’s first wife Sarah, with Isaac. Then Isaac’s first born, Esau, despised his birthright and God honored it being sold to Jacob. There were family squabbles between Ishmael (born of a second wife/handmaid) and Isaac (the true first born of marriage); which grew into nation against nation, down to our present day in the Israeli/Arab conflict. Those same type of family conflicts were passed on down to Isaac’s sons Esau and Jacob; which also resulted in nation against nation down to the present day in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict over land.
Genesis 36:8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
This is the area between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba
The Holy Land was part of the land promised to Abraham who is the father of both the Muslim and Jewish religions, as well as the father of David and of Christ. Three of the world’s great religions came out of Abraham and all three are monotheistic. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is believed to be the place where Abraham went to sacrificed Isaac in the Jewish religion. The Muslims believe that Abraham went there to sacrifice Ishmael and the Christians believe that it is the site of Calvary and the place Christ was crucified.
It is a real tragedy that the peace of the entire modern world hangs in the balance over the Israeli/Arab conflict that started between step brothers of a dysfunctional family from ancient times. Our modern world divides it’s alliances between Israel and the Arab nations.
The conflict of the house of Abraham becomes infinitely more complicated and is compounded with the problems that arise out of Jacobs four wives and the sons who are born to them. Out of jealousy for Leah’s four sons, Rachel demands Jacob to give her a son. This argument results in Rachel giving Jacob her handmaid Bilhah to bear a child for her.
Genesis 30:1-6 KJV And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. (2) And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? (3) And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. (4) And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. (5) And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. (6) And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
After Dan is born, Bilhah gives Jacob and second son and he is called Naphtali.
Genesis 30:7-8 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. (8) And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
Leah is now the jealous; which leads to a retaliation contest through handmaids. Leah also gives Jacob her handmaid and she conceives Gad and then Asher.
Genesis 30:9-13 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. (10) And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. (11) And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. (12) And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. (13) And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
Leah bears two more sons and then a daughter, Issachar and Zebulun followed by Dinah, the daughter. God then gives Rachel, her first child, a son named Joseph. Jacob then asks his father-in-law, Laban to release him because he had fulfilled is agreement to the fourteen years of service to Laban.
Genesis 30:25-26 And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. (26) Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the Master of the Universe. You see all and hear all. I function under the grace of your will. Help me to always draw near to you. Transform my character into your character. Let your righteousness live in me. Give me the understanding and wisdom that are needed to make Godly choices, in Jesus’ name.
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