Genesis 29:15-30

This alone should show us why God only meant for us to have one wife. Gen. 2:24

Fiction, hate, competition, hurts between these two sisters sharing the same husband.

Genesis 29:15-30

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

Laban tricks/deceives Jacob into marrying Leah.

Just as Jacob tricked Isaac into thinking he was Esau.

Gal. 6:7 – Principle of sowing and reaping.

The Lord saw Leah unloved/hated by Jacob.

So the Lord opened her womb, but Rachel was barren (was not a good thing in that day).

Names meant a lot especially in this time.

Leah – 1^st child – Reuben - See, a son. "The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me." She wrongly thought a child would make Jacob love her.

Scoreboard: 1 – 0

Leah – 2^nd child – Simeon – Heard - “…the Lord has heard That I am unloved (hated)…”

Leah – 3^rd child - Levi – Attached – “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons."

Leah – 4^th child – Judah – Praise "Now I will praise the Lord."

Stopped bearing score Leah 4 - Rachel – 0

Chapter 30 Read 1-24

Rachel jealous/envied of Leah having 4 children her having none.

Leah wanted Jacobs love more than the children, but had his children.

Rachel wanted children more than Jacob, but got his love, but no children.

Rachel needs to get into this baby battle – Gives her maid Bilhah (surrogate mother) to Jacob.

Rachel (by Bilhah) – 1^st child – Dan – Judge - . 6 Then Rachel said, "God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son."  She’s now on the baby scoreboard.

Rachel (by Bilhah) – 2^nd child – Naphtali – My Wrestling - Then Rachel said, "With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed."

Leah now losing baby attention, so she said two can play this surrogate mother thing for children.

Leah (by Zilpah) – 5^th(1^st) child - Gad – Troop Fortune(victory)- 11 Then Leah said, "A troop comes!"

Leah (by Zilpah) – 6^th  child – Asher – Happy - 13 Then Leah said, "I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed."

Mandrakes (rare) were thought to have love inducing power – Rachel wants them to help her get pregnant.   Deal backfires – Leah gets pregnant.

Leah (herself) – 5^{th (7th)} of her own - child – Issachar – Wages/Reward - 18 Leah said, "God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband."

Leah (herself) – 6^{th (8th)} of her own - child – Zebulun – Dwelling - 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." Leah still thinking that some how have a 6 sons by Jacob will get Jacob on her side.

Dinah daughter mentioned – normally daughters not mentioned.

Rachel obviously prayed to the LORD for a child, and God hear her.

Why do we do everything else but PRAY!!!

Prayer should be first thing we do, not last thing.

Rachel (herself) 1^{st (3rd)} – Joseph – He will add - "God has taken away my reproach."

Rachel is no longer going the way without God, but now has confidence in praying to God.

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

If babies could speak…

I hope today's message ministered to you.

We hope to have sermons in Audio Format soon!

You may E-mail Pastor Jim at:

jim@communityfellowshipofkane.org

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