God sees everything, and he knows what's best for us. We should ask him to show us His will for our lives and then do what He tells us. But, Jacob was going to have to find this out the hard way!
Genesis 29:31-35- And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Poor Leah! She knew that Jacob didn't love her. She knew that Jacob didn't want to be married to her. But God knew that she was the one Jacob needed to be married to. So, God gave Jacob children thru Leah. Leah had four boys! But, Rachel didn't have any children, and this made her very mad!
Genesis 30:1-2- And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
Rachel was so upset that she decided to get children another way! This is another reason that God didn't want Jacob to marry Rachel. Instead of going to God and asking for his help, or trusting that God knew best, Rachel did things her way.
Genesis 30:3- And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
Oh dear! Rachel wanted Jacob to marry her servant so that she could have children that way. Do you remember someone else who suggested that? That's right! Sarah wanted to have children that way. Was that what God wanted?
Genesis 30:4-8- And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
Wow! Jacob now had three wives and six sons. Do you think he was happy with that? I don't know. But, the ladies were now about to start getting crazy!
Genesis 30:9-13- When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son. And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
What in the world is wrong with these women?!?! Jacob now has four wives and eight sons! When was it going to end? And why does Jacob keep telling his wives okay when he knows that's how Abraham got Ishmael and that Ishmael was sent away because he wasn't what God wanted for Jacob!
Genesis 30:14-15- And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes. And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
Oh boy! Now the women are bargaining for Jacob like he was a piece of fruit! I'll give you this if you give me Jacob.
Genesis 30:16- And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
It seems like Jacob just didn't want to argue. He did whatever his wives wanted to make them happy! Is this what God wants? No. God wants a man who will do God's will for his life no matter who says otherwise. God doesn't want a man who would disobey God just to make his wife happy!
Genesis 30:17-21- And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun. And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
Wow! Leah now has six sons and one daughter. Her servant has two sons, and Rachel's servant has two sons. So, Jacob now has ten sons and one daughter and four wives! But what about Rachel?
Genesis 30:22-24- And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.
Lets add one more son to those numbers. Jacob has now been with Laban a very long time! He got there with nothing but the clothes on his back and now he had a large family! But, Jacob was missing his home.
Genesis 30:25-26- And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country. Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
Jacob went to talk with Laban and asked him to let him go home. But what would Laban say?
