Tag: Rachel

Daily Word

Genesis 35

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Read Genesis 35 – Back to Bethel. 

The Lord first called Jacob back to Bethel in Genesis 31:13, but on the way, Jacob set up camp near Shechem with disastrous results.  Casual obedience is a sure pathway to chaos.  We saw this played out in the last chapter with Dinah, Simeon, Levi, and the rest of Jacob’s sons.  Beloved, what is God calling you to?  If you are not sure, go to the last place he led you to and do what he told you then… Ephesians 5 in the New Testament has very clear instructions. 

Jacob tells his family to prepare for the journey by getting rid of all pagan idols, purifying themselves and putting on clean clothing. 

Beloved, do these things as well for a fresh start.  Is there anything in your house/life you would not want to share with Jesus? 

Jacob’s household gave him all the foul things and he buried them under a great tree near Shechem.  Scripture says:  “As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family.” :5  Now that Jacob was living in obedience, the LORD guarded his path.  And with his obedience, God reminded Jacob that his new name was Israel (it was first given to him when he wrestled with God in 32:28), and that all the blessings of his forefathers were now his.  Jacob marked the place where God had spoken to him. 

The timeline is unclear, but Jacob leaves Bethel for Ephrath (which is Bethlehem).  Rachel gives birth to her second son along the way, and with her last breath, names him Ben-oni… son of my sorrow.  Jacob calls him Benjamin… son of my right hand. 

Jacob’s first born son, Reuben, shows his father utmost disrespect by sleeping with his concubine, Bilhah.  These are the disqualifiers in Jacobs children: Reuben had sex with Bilhah, Simeon and Levi let the massacre at Shechem… the future is now up to Judah, and from him will come our messiah, Jesus Christ. 

Our chapter ends with the death of Isaac. Esau and Jacob buried him, coming together in unity one last time.

Beloved, may your take-away be, “A man resisting God will see the same effect in his family.  A man who gets right with God will see the effect in his family also.” (from David Guzik commentary on Genesis 35).

Daily Word

Genesis 31

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Read Genesis 31 – Breaking free.

Jacob saw that his in-law side of the family were starting to resent him, so when the LORD met him in a dream, telling him to return to the land of his father and grandfather, he did not hesitate.  Jacob saw the ways Laban cheated him, changing his wages 10 times but he also saw how God more than redeemed what Laban took(:7-12). 

He called Leah and Rachel in from the fields and explained the situation to them.  They were fine with it.  Their father was not fair with them either, reducing their rights to that of foreign women, and wasting all the money Jacob paid him (:15).  Laban made it so that Leah and Rachel and their children would not inherit anything. 

As they were packing up, Rachel stole her father’s household idols. :19  Beloved, who can say why?  A heart betrayed and abused can make strange choices to retaliate.

It would be 10 days before Laban would learn that Jacob had fled and catch up with them.  And the night before he did, the LORD appeared to him (Laban) in a dream, telling him, “I’m warning you – leave Jacob alone!” :24 

Laban peppers Jacob with questions over why he left in such a hurry, as though he were a good and noble father, before he gets to the thing that matters most to him, “But why have you stolen my gods?” :30  We have the term, gaslight, for Laban’s behavior, when a person psychologically manipulates another to question their own sanity in order to gain control. 

Jacob permits him to search everyone stating:  “But as for your gods, see if you can find them, and let the person who has taken them die!”  Jacob did not know it was Rachel, and she is shrewd to hide them under her saddle. 

Now Jacob is mad, and he points out Laban’s abuses :36-42.  Laban does not own up to it, but changes the subject – again, a standard gaslighting move.  He proposes a covenant between them. Jacob agrees, and the next morning each goes in peace. 

Beloved, what does the LORD want you to see in this passage?  Is it time to move on from something?  Is He asking you to persevere in a hard situation?  Is He wanting you to make peace?

Daily Word

Genesis 30

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Read Genesis 30 – “EGAD!”

My grandmother’s voice rings in my head as Jacob is passed from sister to servant and back again in Leah and Rachel’s competition for sons. And Gad is the name of Leah’s son, by her servant Zilpah in verse :11. Gad means “How fortunate I am!” I’m not sure if my grandmother saw the correlation.

I found verse :16 to be the most shocking. I almost feel sorry for Jacob.

At last, Rachel is remembered by God and blessed with a son named Joseph. The meaning of his name is “May the LORD add yet another son to my family.” :24 I found that such a strange name, it is like telling God, this one is not enough.

Meanwhile, they are still living on Laban’s estate and Jacob is still laboring for him without wage. Jacob has made him a wealthy man. He asks Laban for his wages in the form of all the speckled, spotted and black sheep and goats. I admire how this form of payment is indisputable. Laban agrees, but in :35 we see him playing dirty once again!

Jacob does not mention the injustice, he simply continues tending the flock, and imparts a technique to ensure the strongest females would give birth to spotted, speckled or black animals. “As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.” :43

Beloved, may these verses remind you that small and corrupt people will come and go throughout your life. Keep your eyes on Jesus, walk closely with Him and watch what happens… que in my grandmother singing, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus… Look full in his wonderful face… And the things of earth will grow strangely dim… In the light of his glory and grace.”🎶

Daily Word

Genesis 29

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Read Genesis 29 – Oh what a tangled web we weave… or so the saying goes. 

Jacob, the trickster, arrives in Paddan-Aram, aka, Uncle Laban’s neighborhood.  He waits beside the well, chatting with the local shepherds… they were the news source of the day.  He inquired about Laban, they said, yes, this was his land, and his daughter Rachel was the woman approaching with her flocks (she was a shepherd, she worked). 

Notice the build up of vs :10.  Jacob’s heart must have been racing!  And vs :11, “Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud.”  That must have made for some fun stories to tell the grandkids. 

Laban takes Jacob in and they make a dowry deal that Jacob will work for him for 7 years, then marry Rachel.  Notice the symbolism… Jacob came from a wealthy household, yet now he was essentially a servant to Laban.  Jesus is LORD, yet He came from heaven to earth to serve. (Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.) 

But on the wedding night, Laban tricks Jacob by giving him Leah and not Rachel, saying it was the custom that the older daughter be married first.  Laban presents a new deal that he will give him Rachel next week, provided Jacob agrees to another 7 years of service.  Remember in Chapter 27 when I said Jacob would face a refining period because of his trickery?  Well, here is 14 years of it. 

Now poor Leah, she is unloved by her husband, but the LORD sees her sorrow and blesses her with 4 sons… one of which would be the priestly line of Levi, another of which would bring forth Jesus Christ, our Messiah, from the line of Judah!

Beloved, the LORD sees you too.  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  The LORD lifts up the humble.  The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psalm 147:3,6,11).