Day 022- The Bible Recap

Rachel envied her sister's ability to have children and offered her servant Bilhah to Jacob...a repeat of what Sarah chose to do with Abraham and her servant Hagar. 30:1-6, 16:1-2

Sadly at this point a competition broke out between the sisters over the number of children they could give to Jacob. Just when it seemed it couldn't get any crazier Rachel and Leah orchestrated a deal involving Jacob and mandrakes. 30:1-21 What saddened me the most through all this was both women seemed to be seeking satisfaction from a person rather than finding their worth in the Lord. I think that struggle is still very prevalent today. It's so easy to get wrapped up in what people think of us!

As Leah began to have more children, "God remembered Rachel and God listened to her" and allowed her to have a son whom she named Joseph. 30:22 The same Joseph (coat of many colors) who we will see be sold by his brothers later on.

Jacob told Laban he wanted to take his family home since he felt he had worked his debt off. Laban believed he was being blessed because of Jacob and wanted him to stay. Jacob reiterated it was time for him to provide for his own family. They eventually made a deal involving all the livestock. Laban schemed by removing some of the animals and giving them to his sons. Jacob apparently secretly bred the animals that were left to his advantage. Jacob ended up with the strong animals and Laban the feeble ones. 30:35-42

God promised to be with Jacob as he and his family returned home. 31:3 

Rachel and Leah felt like property to their father. 31:14-16

Rachel stole her fathers idols. 31:19-21 Was she planning to sell them or worship them or just make her father angry?

Jacob and his family ended up leaving without Laban's knowledge. When they eventually caught up with each other Laban is furious. He brought up the missing idols but they are never found and they eventually make a peaceful pact towards each other. 

Both Laban and Jacob refer to God as "the God of your father" or "the God of my father", suggesting they have no personal relationship with God themselves.

Anything stand out to you today?

~Ann Mays