Makin’ Babies, Genesis 30:1-24

 

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Chapter 29, was about, Kissing Cousins and the Love story of Leah.

Which naturally leads to what we look at today… Makin’ Babies.

Chapter 30, is all about, makin’ babies. The first half is about Jacob’s wives and their unique breeding program for makin’ babies; building a family

The last half, is about makin’ baby lambs via Jacob’s unique breeding program; building a flock.

Back then, big families were a big deal, more babies the better, more help with the chores, in the fields, with the flocks.

So, for a woman to have lots of children, was a blessed badge of honor

Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”

Chapter 29 ended with Leah praising the Lord, for her 4^th child, Judah; which means praise.

No lady is more lovely than one praising the Lord.

Leah had four children, Rachel had none.

Rachel was jealous. Instead of being happy for her sister, she envied her.

This might’ve been the first time Rachel the loved and lovely, ever, envied her sister Leah, the unloved, and unlovely.

So, Rachel turns to Jacob, blames Jacob, demands Jacob, “Give me children or else I die!” (Rachel, that’s not so lovely—actually, it’s kinda ugly).

Perhaps she was a bit of a spoiled diva. Afterall, Jacob worked 14 years just to have her hand in marriage.

² And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

Trouble in paradise.

The wonderful wife he worked 14 years for, isn’t working out so wonderful.

Isaac, Jacob’s dad, left him a good example,

Genesis 25:21; Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

It took 20 yrs. for Rebekah to conceive, nevertheless, they stayed the course, didn’t jump in the sack with the maid.

Jacob should’ve said, “Okay, Rach, let’s pray”

Instead, he took it personal, got mad, “I’m not God, He’s the One not allowing you to have kids.” Perhaps implying, it’s her fault.

From the start, Jacob and his family were a mess.

Why?

Pause and think about Abraham; he prayed and God clearly stated that Sarah was the one who would bear a son to lead to the Promised Seed.

And then, with Isaac, God clearly answered prayer, revealing that Rebekah, was the wife for Isaac.

But, with Jacob, the man God clearly chose to literally become Israel, and father the 12 tribes of the nation; we saw no pausing to pray for God’s guidance about who to choose for a wife.

Going without God’s guidance leads to chaos and confusion.

Jacob winds up with 4 wives; 2 of which are sisters, (his kissing cousins), and their 2 maids, Bilhah and Zilpah. …what a foo-pah.

All we’re told about Jacob’s wife choosing process is that, Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob wanted Rachel because she had a hot bod and a pretty face. Genesis 29:17.

If God’s will were done, if Jacob would’ve been walking by faith not by sight, maybe, Rachel, and Bilhah, and Zilpah, never would’ve been Jacob’s wife.

Perhaps, just Leah; she bore half the tribes of Israel anyway.

Without the chaos and confusion of four wives, it’s not hard to think she could’ve birthed six more, to make up Israel’s dozen sons.

Only God knows. 

No matter what, this shows us, that God can use you, your family, no matter how dysfunctional.

³ So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.” 

First, Rachel turned to Jacob in her race to have a baby. Give me children or else I die.

Now, she turns to Bilhah, her maid.

Okay, if God won’t, Jacob can’t maybe Bilhah will.

Abraham and Sarah, did something similar when they went to Hagar.

Rachel’s going to Bilhah. She is doing whatever she can to make it happen.

Bilhah will be my surrogate mother.

This was before artificial insemination.

She will bear a child on my knees. Some say this is to be interpreted literally. The surrogate was between her (Rachel’s) knees during conception and delivery.

However, most believe it means, the baby is placed on the lap of the Rachel as an act of adoption.

⁴ Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her. ⁵ And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 

Jacob slept with the maid, got her pregnant, and she had a son. Soap operas got nothing on the Bible.

Now, just because the plan seems to have worked, does not mean, it was God’s will.

God’s Divine Plan is always fulfilled, however, His will is often, not.

Polygamy, adultery, fornication, was never, is never, God’s will or plan.  Since the beginning it was one man, one woman, for life.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they (two) shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24; Matt. 19:5, Mark 10:7-8, Ephesians 5:31.

⁶ Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. 

Just because someone says God did something, doesn’t mean He did.

Dan means judge.

She’s actually the one judging.  See I was right. God hasn’t withheld from me, He has judged my case, He has heard my voice, and has given me, a son.

Some invoke the name of God to try and justify their own schemes and plans that God, had nothing to do with.

The end does not justify the means.

Maybe it was culturally correct, but that doesn’t mean it was correct. Just because it’s politically correct doesn’t make it correct. Just because it’s legal, doesn’t make it right either.

Taking short cuts, or making our own alternate plans and then calling them God’s plans, is never God’s best, never provides His perfect peace.

She’s acting happy, but we’ll see down inside, she really isn’t.

⁷ And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.

Jacob has another babe by the maid.

If you’re keeping score, that makes:

• Leah 4
• Rachel (by pinch hitter Bilhah) 2 

 ⁸ Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.

The name she chooses, reveals the wrestling going on inside.

Naphtali, means my wrestling.

The names Dan & Naphtali, meaning judge and wrestling, don’t reflect the peace and joy, that typically accompanies the birth of a baby.

It looks like Rachel’s trying to convince herself that she’s prevailed, that she’s at peace and fulfilled and justified in having her husband sleep with another woman, to make babies.

⁹ When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. 

Your actions affect others, for good or evil.

Even though they knew, it was against nature, and nature’s God; Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham. Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob.

Leah saw what her sister had done, and since she had stopped bearing (which means, she must’ve still been sleeping with Jacob to know that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore); Leah followed suit, and gave Zilpah to Jacob. 

¹⁰ And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. ¹¹ Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad. 

A troop comes; translates literally as good fortune, or, fortunate.

Gad, root meaning is defined as good fortune; and is related to an ancient false god of good fortune.

Leah followed the footsteps of others who were not following the footsteps of God, and so, instead of praising God like she did with Judah, she says something like, thank my lucky stars.

Now the score is:

• Leah 5 (1 of which by pinch hitter Zilpah)
• Rachel (by pinch hitter Bilhah) 2

¹² And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. ¹³ Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.

See, when we’re not walking in the ways of the Lord, we try to convince ourselves we’re happy.

I am happy.

I am happy.

I am happy!

You are… overcompensating.

Also, when you’re unsure of your happiness, it matters what other people think; “everybody calls me blessed.”

At best this is an empty hollow happiness.

So, of course, she called his name Asher; which means Happy.

If you have to keep talking about being happy… you probably aren’t. 

Don’t chase happy, chase God, and happiness, joy, peace, goodness, mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

So now the score is:

•  Leah 6 (2 of which by pinch hitter Zilpah)
• Rachel (by pinch hitter Bilhah) 2

¹⁴ 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.”

In the ancient world, mandrake roots were considered an aphrodisiac and were commonly prepared and eaten as a fertility drug.

Mandrakes roots are weird looking, they resemble a human body with arms and legs.

Mandrakes are often mentioned in folklore and superstitions.

¹⁵ 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.”

Baby Mama Drama.

You take my man, now you want to steal from my son? What’s wrong with you?

Rachel’s desperate.

Rachel turned to Jacob

Rachel turned to her maid

Now, Rachel turned to superstition.

¹⁶ When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night.

Meet Jacob the gigolo.

¹⁷ And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 

Although God has been talked about, this is the first time in this chapter where we see God is involved, and it’s with God listening to Leah.

In the last chapter, the first time He was mentioned was with the Lord looking at Leah. Genesis 29:31.

For God to be listening to her, she must’ve been talking to Him.

He heard, and answered.

So now the score is: 

• Leah 7 (2 of which by pinch hitter Zilpah)
• Rachel (by pinch hitter Bilhah) 2

¹⁸ Leah said, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar. 

Issachar literally means wages. (Sidenote: they become a people known for their understanding of the times and what Israel ought do. 1 Chronicles 12:32).

Leah’s theology is messed up, but at least her eyes are back on the Lord.

Well, she has one eye on the Lord, the other is still on Jacob; trying to earn his love.

Love by works, never works.

¹⁹ Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 

So now the score is:

• Leah 8 (2 of which by pinch hitter Zilpah)
• Rachel (by pinch hitter Bilhah) 2

²⁰ And Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. 

Leah births, half a dozen sons, half of the tribes of Israel, come from Leah.  

Zebulun means dwelling.

Leah’s still trying to win Jacob’s love by, makin’ babies.

²¹ Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

Leah’s on a roll, 3 in a row.

The seventh child from Leah’s body will be Jacob’s only daughter, and Leah’s last child.

Now, the score is:

• Leah 9 (2 of which by pinch hitter Zilpah)
• Rachel (by pinch hitter Bilhah) 2 

²² Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 

God remembered Rachel. He never forgot her, His attention turned toward her as her attention turned toward Him.

God listened, means Rachel was praying.

When we pray to Him, turn our attention toward Him, it’s like He says, “Ah, dear child, calls you by name, I’ve been waiting for you” and you have His undivided attention. It’s awesome.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. James 4:8.

Rachel had turned to Jacob.

Rachel had turned to the maid.

Rachel turned to, mandrakes.

Finally, Rachel turned to God.

He heard, and answered, and opened her womb.

All the thinking and planning and maneuvering, do nothing for propelling God’s plan, until you’ve prayed, invited God into the action.

You aren’t prepared, until you’re preprayered.

²³ And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”

See, even though she was putting on a happy show, like everything was awesome; she still felt reproach, shame, disgrace… until now.

Now, her words ring true, now God has taken away my reproach, shame, disgrace…

One touch from God is all it takes. A touch from God is what it takes.

She could’ve orchestrated a hundred maids to sleep with gigolo Jacob and have a hundred babies by surrogate mothers, but that would never fill the void, that only God can fill. 

She finally turned to God, and allowed Him to bring her Life, abundant life.

 ²⁴ So she called his name Joseph, and said, “The Lord shall add to me another son.”

Joseph meaning: He increases.

Jesus said, the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I’ve come to give you, Life (zoe) and Life more abundantly; increasingly, from glory to glory.

The Lord shall add to me, increasing to me, another son;

And she’s right, she will have one more son, Benjamin; it’s the last thing she does. Gen. 35.

God remembered Leah; who was looking for love.

God remembered Rachel; who was looking for life.

God remembered Jacob; who was looking to make a living.

He remembers you.

Rachel tried everything.

Rachel turned to Jacob. We turn to husband, wife, family, kids, loved ones; to find Life, Zoe Life, the kind of Life only God can give. But they all fall short, we come up empty.

Only one thing is needed.

Rachel turned to the maid. We turn to other people, other plans, other places, jobs, sex, money. All fall short; all leave us empty.

One thing is needed.

Rachel turned to mandrakes. We turn to superstition, drugs, booze. All fall short. Leave us empty.

Only one thing is needed

The Answer is there all along.

Only one thing is needed. Remember Jesus.

Psalm 20:7, Some trust in chariots, and some trust in horses; but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, help us to remember You, in all we say and do, cause our passion to be about makin’ babies, leading others to new Life, Zoe Life, born again into everlasting Life, loving You, forever and ever. Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.