In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and manservants and camels and donkeys. (Genesis 29 & 30)
Jacob traveled alone to the land of Haran, where his mother’s brother lived and the place his grandfather Abraham migrated from. There, Jacob begins to get as good as he gave. He loved Rachel, but was tricked into marrying Leah, a woman he did not love, before he was finally given Rachel. Rachel was barren, but Leah gave him six sons. Leah and Rachel’s maidservants both gave Jacob children as well, and finally, Rachel gave birth to Joseph. (Later she became the mother of Benjamin, but it is not part of this narrative.) These men are important as later, their families became the twelve tribes of the Messianic nation of Israel.
This polygamous family was a mess. Jacob’s father-in-law was as conniving as Jacob once was, his wives’ bickering kept discord in his home, and his sons were not the sort to make a man proud. If anything validates Biblical writing as true, Jacobs story does, for we see him clearly, warts and all.
What can we glean from these characters that so clearly know God, but believe Him to be their servant rather than the other way around? 1. God is always at work for His good, for He is good. 2. God is extremely patient with man.
You cannot out sin God’s love.
Love,
Gretchen