Genesis Jacob Falls In Love

Transcription

1 INTRO: Jacob is 77 years old, and he has fled from Beersheba to go to Haran because he had tricked his blind, elderly dad to give him the blessing instead of Esau, and Esau is wanting to kill his brother. He stopped the first night in Bethel (28:11-22), and now for the next 3 chapters, we will cover Jacob s 20 long years away from his family and the Land. I. Jacob Arrives In Haran. (29:1-14) A. (v. 1) 1. Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. a. went on his journey - Heb. lifted up his feet 1) Jacob had just been given direct revelation of God, and now there is a new spring in his step b. the land of the people of the east 1) Jacob has reached the 575-mile journey to Haran, also known as Aram-Naharaim (24:10), in modernday Syria. B. (v. 2-3) 1. As Jacob approaches the well, he sees them lining up and waiting by the well (as if they were waiting outside the Apple store for the new iphone), because there was a local regulation that there was a certain time to open the well and water the sheep in order of arrival (v. 8). C. (v. 10) 1. and rolled the stone from the well s mouth a. This is impressive for a 77-year old man 1 of 11

2 1) When you re motivated, it s amazing what you can accomplish I m sure he s wanting to impress Rachel. D.(v. 12) 1. and she ran and told her father. a. No doubt Rachel heard about her Aunt Rebekah and the beautiful love story that transpired 97 years earlier 1 when she left Laban and her family to marry Isaac. (24:58-60) There were already romantic connotations when it came to Nahor and the family of Abraham. II.Jacob s Marriages & Children by Leah. (29:15-35) A. (v. 17) B. (v. 18) 1. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. a. tender - Heb. soft; faint; timid; delicate; weak 1) This probably means that Leah s eyes were a lighter color and not as dark brown like most women in that culture, thus not as attractive. 2) Some commentators interpret it that Leah had eye problems, maybe even noticeable lazy eyes or cross-eyed. Whatever the case, she was not as attractive as Rachel. 1. And Jacob loved Rachel; a. For Jacob, it was love at first sight (v. 11) And now that he s observed Rachel for a month (v. 14), he really loves her 1 Isaac is 137 years old at this time (27:1 notes), and he married Rebekah when he was 40 years old (25:20), thus it s been 97 years since Rebekah left her family with Abraham s servant to marry Isaac. 2 of 11

3 2. and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. a. In that culture, a man would give his prospective fatherin-law a DOWRY (basically alimony in advance) for his daughter s hand in marriage. Jacob had nothing to offer, but wanted to marry Rachel, so he offered Laban 7 years of labor for Rachel. C. (v. 21) 1. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. a. Jacob is now 84 years old and wants his bride D.(v ) 1. Q = How did Jacob not know that it was Leah? a. The bride would have had a veil to cover her face until they went in and consummated the marriage, and when they went in, it was dark. (v. 23) E. (v ) 1. Jacob is asking Laban why he had deceived him, yet Jacob was running from his brother Esau because he had deceived their father Isaac a. Jacob is experiencing that Law of Sowing and Reaping. 1) Cf. Galatians 6:7 - Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 3 of 11

4 b. Laban is a deceptive manipulator and a rip-off He tells Jacob to work another 7 years 1) Later on, we learn that Laban changed Jacob s wages 10 times (31:41) F. (v ) 1. he loved also Rachel more than Leah a. NOTE: This was before the Mosaic Law was given, which would forbid a man to marry sisters (Leviticus 18:18), which it was still permitted at that time. b. Here is a case of POLYGAMY. 1) In those times, God did allow Polygamy: a) In the patriarchal societies in that culture during that time, it was almost impossible for an unmarried woman to provide for herself. Women were generally uneducated and untrained, so they had to rely on their fathers, brothers, and husbands for provision and protection. i. Many times, over time unmarried women would become prostitutes or slaves. b) There were a higher woman to man ratio, especially because of brutal warfare that had a high fatality rate, thus leaving many women in an difficult situation. c) Thus, polygamy was not ideal, but allowed much favorable conditions than slavery, prostitution, or starvation. i. Some other advantages to polygamy could be: 4 of 11

5 5 of 11 a. You could have different wives with different gifts so that the responsibilities of the home could be spread out. b. One could cook; one could be an executive type and bring in some income; one could be goodlooking; etc. ii. However, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. It is almost impossible to keep just one woman happy 2) God s plan was a monogamous marriage between one man and one woman for life. a) Though polygamy is never stated as a sin in the Bible, it is a sin in most of the Western countries because it is against he law of the land, and Christians are to obey the laws of the land. (Romans 13:1-7) i. NOTE: The only time we are to disobey the laws of our country is when it violates God s commands in Scripture (Acts 5:29), like preaching the gospel, which Jesus commanded us to do in all nations based on His authority (Matthew 28:18-20). b) Also, the pastors and spiritual leadership in the Church are to be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6), which are examples to the Church of how to live. Thus, Christians today should not practice polygamy because of God s design and His standard. i. NOTE: Today, our culture does not practice polygamy, but they do sadly

6 practice serial marriage We don t marry many women at once, but we marry many women in a row G.(v. 31) 1. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. a. hated - Heb. unloved 1) Obviously it wasn t a strong hatred because he still slept with her. It has the idea of loved less in reference to choice. She was hated in the sense of not being chosen. a) It is so sad when a wife doesn t feel loved by her husband, and he chooses other things besides her. i. Cf. Ephesians 5:25, 29 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;... For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: ii. Too many husbands will choose their friends, sports, hobbies, ministry, etc, instead of making sure their wives know that they are chosen first iii.some men need to make the choice to put her first a. KEY: Feelings always follow action You might not always feel love for your spouse, but you can show love in action, which will result in feelings. 6 of 11

7 b. when the LORD saw 1) Poor Leah is an innocent party in all this, and just wants to be loved by her husband, yet she is in a difficult circumstance. However, the Lord saw how Leah was unloved by her husband, and He had compassion on her. a) Sometimes your husband can be a real turkey. Some husbands are downright mean and unloving. But God wants you to know that He sees it, and He has compassion on you. c. He opened her womb 1) Anytime a conception takes place, it s because God has allowed it. God is sovereign over the womb. 2 H.First 4 Children by LEAH: (v ) 1. Reuben = Look, a Son 2. Simeon = Hearing 3. Levi = Joined; Attachment 4. Judah = Praise III.Jacob s Children by DIFFERENT WIVES. (30:1-24) A. BILHAH. (v. 1-8) 1. Dan = Judge 2. Naphtali = My Wrestling 2 Cf. Genesis 21:1-2; 25:21; 29:31; Exodus 1:7, 20; 1 Samuel 1:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:13, 35 7 of 11

8 a. NOTE: It s possible that these 2 sons were born before Judah and that Bilhah was pregnant at the same time as Leah. B. ZILPAH. (v. 9-13) 1. Gad = Troop; Fortune 2. Asher = Happy C. LEAH Gets 2 More. (v ) 1. (v. 14) mandrakes - Heb. dodaim - love apples ; lovers flowers a. These are berries that have white and reddish blossoms and a yellow fruit similar to small apples.3 Here in North America, they are called May-apples. b. The Hebrew root is dod ( lover ), and mandrakes were known as an APHRODISIAC with a pleasant odor that were thought to stimulate sexual arousal and increase fertility. 1) Cf. Song of Solomon 7:13 2. Issachar = Hire; Reward 3. Zebulun = Dwelling 4. Dinah = Judge ; feminine form of Dan a. Jacob had other daughters too. (37:35; 46:7, 15) D. RACHEL. (v ) 3 Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum. The Book of Genesis, ibooks, p of 11

9 1. Joseph = He shall add POSSIBLE 7-YEAR CHRONOLOGY OF BIRTH OF JACOB S SONS Year Leah Bilhah Zilpah Rachel 1 Reuben 2 Simeon 3 Levi 4 Judah Dan 5 Naphtali Gad 6 Issachar Asher 7 Zebulun, Dinah Joseph IV.Jacob s Deal With Laban. (30:25-43) A. (v. 25) 1. 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. a. At this time, Jacob is now 91 years old. 4 B. (v. 27) 1. And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by 4 Genesis 47:9 w/ 41:46, 53; 45:6 9 of 11

10 experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake. a. experience - Heb. divination; enchantments 1) This Hebrew word has the same root as the word serpent, and literally means to divine through a serpent. 5 a) Laban was a pagan who practiced Occult divination. C. (v ) 1. Jacob separated from the flocks into 3 categories: a. Speckled and spotted cattle. b. Brown/black sheep. c. Speckled and spotted goats. 2. Any of that were born with those 3 characteristics would be Jacob s wages which he could keep. The rest would be Laban s. a. Jacob had a lot of knowledge of sheep and goats because he had been a shepherd his whole life, and he is now 91 years old. So, he had observed Mendelian genetics and learned about dominant and recessive traits, thus able to perform selective breeding and have a flock that was predominately speckled and spotted. D.(v ) 1. Jacob took wooden sticks from the green poplar, hazel (almond), and chestnut, and cut stripes and peeled them back for a zebra-like effect. 5 Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum. The Book of Genesis. ibooks. p of 11

11 2. Then he set the sticks in the water troughs while they were mating as an aphrodisiac and fertility promoter, making the animals go into heat and conceive. a. We do know that there are certain physiological reactions to what a person or animal sees with their eyes. 1) Examples of physiological reactions to sight: a) When some people see blood, they faint. b) Blushing when you see people kissing. c) Getting nauseous at something gruesome. d) Pornography stimulates the sexual passions (which is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs) b. Jacob may have discovered as a shepherd that these striped rods stimulated the animals to sexual activity. 3. Whatever the case, Jacob knew that it was really the Lord that blessed him, not his genetic engineering. (31:8-10) 11 of 11