Genesis 30 Contrasting 2 Sisters
Dear family and friends, our study focuses on the contrast between sisters Leah and Rachel and their struggle for the same man, Jacob. Rachel said, ‘With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed.’ Genesis 30.8 Leah said to Rachel, ‘Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband? And [now] you want to take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said. Therefore he shall lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.
In our previous study of Genesis 29, Leah made false accusations against Jacob. Leah asserted that her husband, Jacob, did not love or treat her on the same level of lovingkindness as her sister, Rachel. Genesis 29 says, ‘the Lord saw that Leah was hated.’ Leah based her assertions on the fact that she was Jacob’s first wife. The Lord Blessed the fruit of her womb, and she bore Jacob six sons and a daughter. Leah’s claims were valid, but they omitted essential details that we reviewed in the previous chapter, Genesis 29.
Jacob did not respond to any of Leah’s claims like, ‘Surely the Lord has looked upon my affliction; now, therefore my husband will love me.’ Leah said, ‘Because the Lord has heard that I was hated, He has therefore given me this son also;’ and Leah conceived again, and bare a son; and said, ‘Now, this time my husband will be joined to me.’
In Genesis chapter 30, we notice Jacob responding in anger to Rachel’s comment. When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or else I die.’ And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, ‘Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?‘ Rachel was saying without children; it’s like I’m dead.
Jacob did not respond to Leah’s emotions, interpretations, or assertions. On the other hand, Jacob was angry with Rachel’s claim. What is the difference between his wives? Rachel was envious, jealous, bitter. Rachel saw the window of opportunity quickly closing. She knew that either Esau or Jacob would have 12 sons that would form the nation of Israel. Leah had six sons, Bilhah had two sons, and Zilpah had two sons. Rachel has no children. Even the midwives bore Jacob’s children. It was like Rachel was wondering, ‘Jacob doesn’t care about me? I’m the wife you really love. You worked for fourteen years for me. Don’t you care if I have children?’ Jacob did care, but the issue was between Rachel and God.
Jacob was a tzaddik that was accompanied by angels, wrestled with angels, and commanded angels. Yet, it was not within his power to give Rachel children. What did it feel like for Rachel to interact with a principled person?
Leah was a prayerful woman, wife, and mother who desired more of her husband’s warmth, tenderness, and lovingkindness. Yet, Jacob did not fall head over heels for Leah. Leah was a victim of Rachel’s beauty, charm, and shape.
Jacob was smitten with Rachel’s beauty. He was consumed with ‘all things Rachel.’ He was saturated with love for Rachel. She was Jacob’s everything. Rachel was the apple of Jacobs’s eye. Can we imagine what Jacob’s rebuke must have felt like to Rachel, who so to speak could do no wrong?
The struggle and the contrast between Leah and Rachel can apply to any of us. Then there is the Righteous man who is smitten And one situation or another. Some of us are greatly preferred, and others of us are rejected. We experience that Leah, Rachel and Jacob Spiritual conflict. Sometimes we may go a little too far in our pursuit of what we think is right. Sometimes we pay a high price for what we want. Our aggressive behaviors may get the best of us occasionally, but God Willing by learning thepositive righteousness influence of The Torah will help us keep our attitudes in check.
Blessings and Peace,
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
