Ep. 16. Genesis 29-31 | Jacob’s Family and Wealth

EPISODE 16

JACOB'S FAMILY AND WEALTH: GENESIS 29-31

If you are reading the corresponding chapters, then today was a bit of a long read. There is a lot of information packed into these pages today, but I'll try not to be too long-winded.

Jacob has made his way to his uncle Laban and fallen in love with Rachel. I have always had an affection for Rachel and a disdain for Leah, but both were misplaced. I suppose my favoritism for Rachel was born out of Jacob's love for her and the fact she was described as more beautiful than her older sister. But we should not miss the critical detail that the line of Jesus comes through Leah and not Rachel, so we should find more joy in Leah than Rachel. We noticed today that Rachel was shady in one respect or another as she demanded children of her husband or stole her father's household idols.

Leah will be the first to give Jacob a son. In fact, Jacob will father eleven sons in the next seven years. This would be impossible if not for the fact he slept with four different women to accomplish this. Leah gives Jacob his first four sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. The name of Judah is of particular interest to us in that he is the first son Leah has where her focus seems to turn to God as she names him based on, "This time I will praise the LORD." Of course, Jesus will come through the line of Judah.

Rachel gives her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob, and she bears Dan and Naphtali for him.

Leah gives her servant, Zilpah, to Jacob, and she bears Gad and Asher.

Leah then bears two more sons and a daughter: Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.

Finally, at least for now, Rachel bears a son named Joseph.

We will need to come back and revisit these children later, for they shape the rest of the Old Testament for us, but it isn't necessary today. If we follow the line of Jesus, it is enough for us to know today that Leah gave birth to Judah, and Jesus comes from Judah's line.

Jacob was ready to head home after seven years of working for Leah (though he thought he was working for Rachel), a wedding a week later, another wedding, and another seven years for Rachel. Laban implored Jacob to stay. After all, Laban had been blessed under Jacob's watchful eye, and Laban's flocks had flourished. Jacob ended up working another six years for his uncle's flocks. The deal they made was that Jacob would take the speckled and spotted as his payment. Though Laban agreed to those terms, he immediately took all the speckled and spotted sheep out of his herds, gave them to his own sons, and sent them three days away. Laban was a crook. However, when twenty years total had passed, Jacob took his wives and children along with his flock and fled back to his homeland.

God had built Jacob into a large company of people. Laban pursued his son-in-law, daughters, and grandchildren, but God didn't allow Laban to do Jacob any harm. We need to remember Laban was not a follower of God but an idol worshipper. Laban and Jacob make a covenant and name the place Mizpah. Keep that location in your mind; it makes several significant appearances in the Old Testament.

ADDITIONAL READING: None Today