Genesis 29:31-30:24

October 30, 2016

Lord’s Day Worship

Sean Higgins

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The sermon starts at 18:44 in the audio file.

Or, A Race of Envy

It’s hard to imagine that a family would have problems if that family started out with a business arrangement to work for a bride who was then switched for the older sister on the wedding night when the groom was probably drunk who realized what happened the morning after and then married the younger sister eight days later and gave her all his attention. No, that would cause no problems at all.

It’s a true story, and it’s also just and introduction. Jacob fled from home and came to Laban, Laban (and Leah) deceived Jacob, Leah and Rachel became Jacob’s wives. Jacob already worked seven years and he’s about to begin his second seven year tour.

Jacob left his home when he was around 77 years old. He met the younger of Laban’s daughters, Rachel, at the well outside Haran and the 2555 days he worked for her “seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her” (Genesis 29:20). Rachel was “beautiful in form and appearance” (verse 17) and he offered to work for her because he loved her (verse 18). It’s why he was upset at the switch, and the final thing we saw last week was that Jacob “loved Rachel more than Leah” (verse 30).

As offspring are born to Jacob in Genesis 29:31-30:24 (note that the first and last paragraphs in the section begin with God opening wombs) we’ll see that each sister wanted what the other sister had. Neither of them were content, and Jacob did nothing to help. Leah and Rachel were in a race of envy, and the fruit of their wombs struggled with the consequences of that envy for generations. Jacob could have written his own soap opera script, “These Are the Days of My Wives.”

Five stages of the race:

Leah Goes Out First (29:31-35)

Leah deceived Jacob to become his wife. It may not have been her idea, but she was complicit. Regardless of her looks, we understand why Jacob wouldn’t feel attached to her.

But she was his wife and he did not treat her appropriately. The one who noticed was God. When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. As we’ve already learned in Genesis, the womb is the LORD’s to open or close as He wills. He does not always close it as discipline, but He always controls it.

Here the LORD disciplined Jacob for his favoritism. Obviously Jacob shared a bed with Leah but apparently not much else.

And Leah conceived and bore a son and called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked on my affliction; for now my husband will love me. Leah seems both sad and hopeful. She’s sad because she’s unloved and she knows it. Yet she’s hopeful that this child, this son, will turn Jacob’s heart toward her. She believed this was the LORD’s doing; it’s interesting that she never gives credit to her father’s household gods (see Genesis 31:19). Reuben sounds like a thankful exclamation: “See, a son!” Reuben was a gift from God.

Did Reuben unite Jacob’s heart to Leah? Leah keeps having sons in quick succession but does not start having more connection with Jacob.

She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. (Genesis 29:33–35)

Simeon sounds like “heard”; God saw and God heard her struggle. Levi sounds like “attached” which she still hoped Jacob would become. Judah sounds like “praise.” Maybe Leah has given up and is worshipping God regardless of how Jacob treated her but, based on what’s yet to happen, I think this is just a crescendo of her expectation. [...]