Epic Baby Mama Drama
Epic - The Story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 49:17
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Last week we studied how, despite Isaac and Esau's selfishness and Rebekah's and Jacob's scheming and lack of faith, God was able to fulfill His word of having Jacob, Isaac's younger son, receive the blessing of the birthright.
This sermon will cover quite a few chapters. There is a lot of information that we will cover today as we continue the story of Jacob. We will hit highlights of Jacob's life away from Canaan as we progress through several chapters rather quickly.
Up until now we have looked at Jacob's character. He is deceptive and wily. He has deceived Esau, he has deceived Isaac, he has gained what was promised by God via dishonest means, and due to his lack of faith in the Lord, he in now under the wrath of his older brother, Esau. After being blessed with the blessing of the birthright, Jacob now realizes that his life is in danger. Esau wants to kill Jacob for what he considers a theft (even though the birthright never belonged to him, as per God's instructions). Rebekah advises Jacob to flee and convinces Isaac that this is what is best.
Isaac blesses Jacob again, now with the blessing of Abraham (the same blessing that he had received from his father and that Abraham had received from God), and sends him to the city of Haran in Padan-Aram (the same place Abraham's servant found Rebekah for Isaac). So Jacob sets off, travelling north as he flees from Esau's murderous wrath and goes to look for himself a wife from his mother's family in Haran.
As he travels, Jacob stops in a place named Luz. It's dark, and he decides to rest there. He sets a stone up for a pillow or a headrest and falls asleep.
Genesis 28:10-15 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Something absolutely wonderful happens, Jacob has an encounter with God. The God that he has probably heard a lot about, even though he wasn't instructed in faith like Isaac had been, is now speaking to Jacob in a dream.
Jacob has a vision of angels going up and down a ladder or stairway that leads to God standing at the top.
God then speaks to Jacob and prophesies over him in the same way that he did with Abraham and Isaac: your descendants will be innumerable, and this land will be theirs. And God adds a bit for Jacob personally: I will be with you to protect you and bring you back into this land. The idea in those days was that when you left home, you left whatever god you served behind you (remember the story of Naaman the leper wanting to take dirt from Israel back to Assyria because of this widely held belief). So God assures Jacob that He will accompany him and ensure Jacob's safe return to Canaan.
When Jacob wakes up, he has an important response to this vision. Genesis 28:16-22 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
God was in that place! His response of fear mingled with surprise drove him to worship the Lord with whom he had just spoken. He renames the place once called Luz, Bethel, which means house of God. He turns the stone he had used as a head piece as he slept into a monument to the Lord, memorializing that great experience. By pouring the oil on it, he is consecrating it to the Lord.
The pouring out of a liquid in Hebrew culture was indicative of pouring out one's life in devotion to the Lord. And we see that as Jacob dedicates himself to the Lord and claims God's promises that have been declared to him.
Jacob is not making a bargain here with God. We have to understand that this word if has two meanings. One is if in the sense of a possibility. "If I read my Bible, I will grow closer to God because I will know more about Him."
The other meaning is since. As in, "Since I read my Bible, I will grow closer to God because I will know more about Him."
So what Jacob is saying here is that since God will be with him, he, Jacob, will follow God. He has marked his dedication to the Lord with a monument and with the intention of giving a tenth of all that he will in the future accumulate to the Lord.
And Jacob continues his journey. As we come to Chapter 29, we see that Jacob comes to a place outside of Haran where shepherds are gathered waiting to water their sheep. There he meets a young woman named Rachel. Rachel just so happens to be the daughter of Laban, Rebekah's brother. Jacob falls head over heels for Rachel, and after meeting Laban, Laban invites Jacob to stay there.
Jacob stays a month, working for his uncle Laban. Genesis 29:14-20 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
How romantic! 7 years just seem like a few days because Jacob has someone to love, a job to do, and something to look forward to: all the ingredients one would need, or so we are told, to bring joy.
Laban asks Jacob what he wants for all the work that he's putting in around the house, and Jacob very frankly responds, "I want to marry Rachel." They make a deal. Laban says, work for me for seven years, and Jacob is all to eager to accept without reading the fine print.
At the end of seven years, Jacob tells Laban, "Hey Laban, it's been seven years now. Let me marry Rachel." But what Jacob failed to remember is that Laban never said, "Work for me seven years and I'll let you marry Rachel."
Look what happens. Genesis 29:21-26 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
Oops! The supplanter just got a taste of his own medicine. The taker of heels just got taken by the heel. The trickster got tricked. The deceiver got deceived.
Jacob didn't realise that he had been dealing with a master schemer. Laban had his eyes set on controlling Jacob's life, and he would remain in control of Jacob for 20 years. Jacob had been had, and now he awakens the day after his wedding realizing that under those wedding veils was not Rachel, but Leah.
Remember, God is with Jacob. But this is what God is doing to Jacob. He is disciplining him. God has a plan to transform Jacob into a new person. But first Jacob has to learn the sting of deception with which he has so freely and carelessly stung others.
Look at how Jacob confronts Laban. Genesis 29:25b-29 What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
So Laban wrangles another 7 years of work out of Jacob so that he can finally be married to Rachel. This is a long lesson that Jacob is learning. Notice that the next seven years do not carry the description of having passed by quickly. Angered at being tricked and taken advantage of, I am sure those 7 years felt like the full 14 for Jacob.
A few weeks ago we studied about Isaac and how he fell into some of the same temptations that Abraham had. Isaac seems not to have learned from the warzone that was his home, and we see that in the next verse.
Genesis 29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Favoritism. Jacob had been a victim of a home split by favoritism, and here he is, playing favorites. There is a lesson that Jacob needs to learn here as well, so God opens up Leah's womb but makes Rachel barren and unable to have children.
Can you imagine being Leah? How horrible that would have been. She is so happy when she is able to have children. She knows she's not the favorite, but now that she is bearing a son and Rachel still cannot, maybe Jacob will start to love her a little more. It isn't that Jacob hated her, that word hated means loved less. That feeling would have been just as bad for Leah though. She is obviously treated as less than by her husband, and possibly even by her own sister.
But now! Now she has a boy, and look at what she names him. Genesis 29:32 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.
She names her first son Reuben. Reuben means "look, a son." She has named him in reflection of her emotions.
She feels that God has seen her affliction and has blessed her with this son
And it is a cry to Jacob, "Look at me. Will you love me now, Jacob? I have something that Rachel can't give you. Will you love me now?"
Not much seems to change in that regard, however, because when Leah is again blessed with another son, she names him Simeon. Genesis 29:33 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.
She names this child, again, out of her heartfelt wishes and feelings. Simeon means "heard," as in "I have been heard." She states that God has heard her because of her affliction and has sent her a son. But again, this is a call for Jacob: "Will you hear me? Will you listen to me? Will you love me now?"
She conceives again, Rachel still being barren, and Leah has another son and names him Levi. Look at what she has to say. Genesis 29:34 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.
Levi means "join me." Can you hear the desperate call of Leah for Jacob? "Jacob, will you look at me? Will you hear me? Now will you join me?" Leah, who was always favored less than Rachel even before Jacob arrived on scene, is desperate for love from somebody.
Like Abraham's initial views of Isaac, Leah viewed her husband as the one that would be her prize.
Some of you may be able to relate to Leah's plight. She grew up in a home where Rachel was the favorite. She was the oldest, but always was second fiddle to her little sister who was more beautiful. I imagine that she dreamed of her prince charming coming to sweep her off her feet. Someone who would love and cherish her and treat her right. And in comes Jacob. Jacob clearly loves Rachel, even after shepherding sheep all day, she was still easier on the eyes than Leah.
But now, Jacob has her. Yes, it is a nasty trick her father played on Jacob to be able to retain such a hard worker, but maybe now, Jacob would fall in love with her. Maybe now she would finally experience a dedicated husband that would love and cherish her, but it didn't happen.
For seven more years she has to put up with a husband who loves someone else, but it turns out, Leah can have kids, and Rachel cannot. Maybe this will finally put her on a level playing field with her lifelong rival. Reuben is born, then Simeon, then Levi, and still she cannot attain the love that she has always wanted and indeed, needed.
But something happens after the birth of Levi. No, not between her and Jacob, but definitely something in Leah's heart. Because after Levi is born, she conceives again and look at her reaction now. Genesis 29:35 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.
Did anybody notice anything different with what she names the child and how she describes her situation? The she is no longer reacting out of pain and desperation. Her focus has shifted.
Judah or Jehudah comes from the Hebrew word yada and it means to praise. If you come on Wednesday evening Bible studies, you may remember us learning about the different words for "praise" in the Bible. Yada is one of them. It means to give praise and worship in thanksgiving with outstretched hands.
When this son is born, Leah says, "Now I will yada the Lord, and name my son Jehudah (Judah)!" Every time she called his name, she was reminded that she was thankful to the Lord. Leah's tent was now filled with worship and praise as little Judah learned how to walk, and started messing with things. Even when she would reprimand him, the first thing out of her mouth was "Praise!" as she cried out "Judah, don't put you fingers in the outlet!"
See, Leah had learned somewhere along the way, that Jacob would never be able to fulfill her desire to b e loved. Even if Jacob turned and began to love her as much as he loved Rachel, she would not be satisfied. So she focused on the Lord. When Judah was born, she used his name as a statement.
Just like she had stated and repeated her desperation for a loving relationship with Jacob in the names of her first three children, Leah now makes her declaration of dependance on God alone for her fulfillment in Lord as she exclaims "Yada! I will praise the Lord!"
Unfortunately, Rachel, though loved the most, has not learned this lesson.
Genesis 30:1 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.
Rachel, though loved the most, is beat out by her sister in the child bearing department and can't stand it. Jacob's love is not enough for her, and in envy exclaims to Jacob, "Give me kids, or I will die." Jacob replies that he cannot do anything to make her un-barren (I guess he has forgotten the circumstances surrounding his father's birth and his own birth).
In Rachel's desperation, she tells Jacob, Take my servant, Bilhah. Have kids with her. When it's time to have her child, she'll sit on my lap and it will be just like it is mine. Rachel is nuts, y'all! She's driven to this, not out of love for her husband, but out of envious competition with her sister.
So Bilhah get pregnant and has a child, and Rachel names him Dan. She says, "God has judged and given me what I rightfully deserve, a son." And the name Dan means judge. She has now been vindicated.
Bilhah conceives another child and when he is born, Nephtali. Genesis 30:8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
Rachel sees herself as in a competition! She sees herself as the winner too! She finally has two kids that she has adopted as her own and feels as if she is back in first place with Jacob (though he always loved her more).
In this, Leah focus gets sucked into this competition. She can't have children anymore, so she gives her servant, Zilpah, to Jacob. Jacob has 2 kids with her, Gad (meaning troop or good fortune), and Asher (meaning happy). We know that her focus was not on the Lord anymore because when Asher is born, she says this.
Genesis 30:13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher. What had she based her fulfillment on now? It wasn't on God anymore; it wasn't even on Jacob. No, her focus was that other women would look at her and call her blessed, more blessed than Rachel. That is what made her happy.
After a while, God allows Leah to bare two more children. Leah is still off focus though as she names her children Issachar which means reward, and Zebulun which means exalted or honored. When Zebulun is born, she says in verse 20, "God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons."
"I will be honored by Jacob now, because I gave him six sons." Her focus is off God and back on Jacob.
God then hears Rachel's plight and allows her to bare a son herself, which she names Joseph. Joseph means "the Lord has added" and she does this in the hopes that she will have another son, which she does later down the road.
We end this sermon today on a similar note as last week. A family divided.
We saw the rule of selfishness in the actions of Laban, we saw the consequences of Jacob's favoritism in the envy that takes root in Leah and Rachel. This envy will be something that will be devastating to the family later on. It is not something that gets resolved. Years later, Rachel would have another son that she names Benoni. Benoni's name is changed to Benjamin by Jacob, but Benoni means "son of my struggle." What struggle? Her struggle with Leah. Rachel would die in childbirth, shortly after naming her second son. The envy and jealousy alive until her last breath.
Folks, what will it take for us to realize that selfishness in our families is deadly, and is deadly for generations?
When will we realize that in our selfishness, God is calling to us. When God gave Leah and Rachel and their servants these children, He was not trying to promote the rivalry; He was calling to them, much in the way that Leah called unto Jacob. And he is calling to you now.
This morning God is saying, "When will you finally look at me? When will you listen to me? When will you join me? Stop struggling? When will you stop seeking honor for yourself? When will you let me make you happy, instead of looking to all these other things? When will you love me more than anything else?"
