Genesis 31:1

Genesis 31:1 says, And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.  Jacob heard Laban's sons claiming that he had taken everything from their father.  This is the first time we hear anything about Laban's sons, and when we do, they are angry about Jacob taken what Laban and he had agreed on as Jacob's wages.  When material things are involved, often it doesn't take long for others, especially family members, to be upset if they think they are losing something.  Verse two states, And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.  Laban also changed his attitude toward Jacob, even though he had agreed to give Jacob the part of the flock that Jacob had taken.  Verse three declares, And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.  Basically, God told Jacob it was time for him to go home.  When we are in a bad situation, we need to listen to what God tells us.  If we obey God, He will never desert us.  Verse four declares, And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock. Verse five adds,, And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.  Jacob sent Rachel and Leah out to his flocks, and then he told them that he could see that their father's attitude toward him had changed.  If we see possible danger to others, we should make them aware of it.  Jacob also said that the God of his father was with him. Verse six continues, And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.  Jacob reminded them that he had faithfully served their father.  We need to be faithful in our relationship to others, but we especially need to be faithful in our relationship to our heavenly Father.  Verse seven adds, And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.  Jacob said that Laban had cheated him multiple times, but that God had kept Jacob safe.  Even if other people cheat us, we can be certain that God is going to keep us spiritually safe forever if we are followers of Christ.  Verse eight states, I said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.  Basically, Jacob said he had no control over what color the animals would be born, and that he was just taking the ones that Laban and he had agreed on.  Verse nine adds, Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.  Though Jacob was still calling God the God of his father, and not his God, Jacob recognized that God was the One giving him the animals.  Even those who may not have a personal relationship with God can often see His work in the world, especially those who are the children of those who believe in God.  Verse ten says, And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.  Then verse eleven adds, And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.  Then verse twelve continues, And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.  Jacob said that  an angel of God appeared to him in a dream, and told him that God was giving Jacob the best of the flock, because He knew how Laban had been mistreating Jacob.  God will always know when we are being mistreated, and He will keep us safe, if not in this world, then in the one to come.  Verse thirteen declares, I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.  God reminded Jacob of Who He was and of Jacob's vow to Him at Bethel and that it was time to act on that vow.  It was time get out of the land he was in and return to where he should be.  No matter how successful we may become in the world, we must never forget our promises to God.

Genesis 30:35

Genesis 30:35 says, And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.  Jacob began to separate the herds as Laban and he had agreed to do.  Until then, everything had belonged to Laban, even though Jacob had worked for him for years.  Like Jacob, we should expect at least some reward, or pay, for our work.  Of course, our work for God already has its reward, which is everlasting life.  We cannot work to earn everlasting life, but since we already have the reward, then we should work in appreciation of that reward.  Verse thirty-six states, And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.  The flocks, after being divided by color, were separated by three days journey.  This was to ensure that both got what they agreed on.  Jacob still continued to feed the rest of Laban's flocks, as he had agreed to do.  When we make a bargain with someone, we need fulfill our part of the bargain.  Verse thirty-seven says, And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. Then verse thirty-eight adds, And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.  Then verse thirty-nine concludes, And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.  Matthew Henry says that these sticks somehow influenced the color the offspring of the flocks would have.  I am not sure how the stakes influenced anything, but I am sure that God could bless Jacob with the best of the flock.  We need to simply rely on God today without attempting to bring about the outcome that we want in a situation by our own ability.  Verse forty declares, And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban’s cattle.  Jacob continued to separate the offspring of the flocks as Laban and he had agreed to do.  Verse forty-one adds, And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.  Then verse forty-two continues, But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. Then verse forty-three concludes, And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.  I will not profess to know exactly how all this worked, but however it was, Jacob somehow had the birth of the animals work in his favor.  He was getting the stronger animals.  Maybe Jacob felt that since Laban had cheated him in his bargain for Rachel that he would now take advantage of his knowledge of the herds to benefit himself.  We can say that Jacob was still relying on his own abilities instead of relying on God.  As followers of Christ, we do not need to deceive others to get what we want in life.  We simply need to put our faith in God.

Genesis 30:25

Genesis 30:25 says, 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.  After the birth of Joseph, Jacob was ready to return home.  He had not come to this land for a permanent home, but to find a wife from his mother's people.  We cannot afford to lose sight of our original purpose when we are following God, even if life seems to be going very well when we are doing whatever we are doing.  Verse twenty-six adds, Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.  Jacob asked Laban to allow him to leave with his wives and children.  Jacob had worked for Laban even beyond the years required to have Leah and Rachel as his wives, though it was all really done only for Rachel.  Jacob still showed respect for Laban by asking his permission to leave.  I believe that we as followers of Christ should always be respectful to others whenever possible, no matter what our relationship with them may be.  Verse twenty-seven states, And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.  Laban asked Jacob to stay because God had blessed Laban for Jacob's sake.  Though we may feel that we are blessed by being around Christians, we can only truly be blessed by having a personal relationship with Christ.  Laban really didn't need Jacob to be blessed by God, and we don't need anyone today to know God's blessings, but like Laban, even if he didn't know it, we need only that personal relationship with God.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.  Laban basically asked for Jacob to tell him what he owed him, even though Laban had asked him to stay.  Verse twenty-nine declares, And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.  Verse thirty adds, For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?   Jacob told Laban that Laban's wealth had increased because of Jacob's work and God's blessing Jacob.  If we have done something to benefit someone else, even if it is because of our work, we should always give God the credit if we are followers of Christ.  Jacob also asked how he would provide for his family if he left everything with Laban.  Verse thirty-one states, And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock:  Laban asked Jacob what he wanted Laban to give him, and Jacob said he didn't want Laban to give him anything.  If Laban agreed to Jacob's proposal, then Jacob would work for him awhile longer.  Verse thirty-two adds, I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.  Verse thirty-three concludes, So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.  Jacob said he would separate certain goats and sheep from the others, and when the time came for him to leave that those that were like those that had been separated would be his wages.  Like Jacob, we cannot demand someone give us something, but we can also be expected to be paid fairly for our work.  Jacob also once again gave God the credit for his success, and so should we in all the success that we have in the world.  Verse thirty-four declares, And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.  Laban agreed with Jacob's plan.

Genesis 30:14

Genesis 30:14 says, And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.  Reuben would have still be fairly young, but he was in the fields and harvested some mandrakes for his mother.  These plants were noted for causing someone to be in an excited state, somewhat like narcotics, according to the definition.  Rachel asked Leah to share them with her.  Verse fifteen states, And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.  Evidently, Leah did not really care about what Rachel wanted, since she felt that Rachel had stolen her husband.  Again, I am not sure that Rachel had anymore say in the matter of marriage than Leah did, but it was bound to cause bad feelings, especially when Jacob loved Rachel more.  We cannot blame others for doing  things that they really have no control over.  Jacob and their father were the ones to blame, not each other.  Verse sixteen proclaims, And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.  Leah met Jacob as he came in from the field and told him that he must come to bed with her that night.  She said it was because of the mandrakes, so for whatever reason, she felt that the mandrakes would make her more desirable.  People today often begin to use stimulates or drugs thinking that they will somehow make them better, when at best what they often do is simply decrease inhibitions.  Verse seventeen adds, And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.  Once more, only God can give life, and actually Leah was Jacob's first wife.  Unlike Sarah and Abraham, we are not told that God made His promise to Jacob and a particular woman, but God was still at work in their lives.  We as followers of Christ may at times fail to live up to what God expects of us, but that doesn't mean that He is not still at work in our lives.  Leah was blessed with a fifth son.  Verse eighteen states, And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.  Leah attributed her having another son to God blessing her for giving her maid to Jacob, but I don't believe that this was the case.  If God blesses us, it will never be because we have done something that is against His word.  Verse nineteen says, And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.  Then verse twenty adds, And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.  Leah had a sixth son and felt that because of this Jacob would prefer her to Rachel.  We should never use children as a way to cause someone else to love us.  Verse twenty-one states, And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.  Jacob now had ten sons, and this was his first daughter.  Then, verse twenty-two declares, And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.  I don't believe that this means that God had forgotten Rachel until this time, but simply means that He blessed her with a child.  As followers of Christ, if we don't get everything we want in life, that doesn't mean that God has forgotten us.  Our relationship with God should never be determined by material things.  Verse twenty-three adds, And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:  Then verse twenty-four concludes, And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.  Rachel finally had son, and she named him Joseph.  As we know, Joseph would become a big part in God fulfilling His promise to Abraham, then Isaac, and now Jacob.  God's promise to us today of everlasting life is just as certain as was His promise to them, no matter how much time passes before the ultimate fulfillment of that promise.

Genesis 30:1

Genesis 30:1 says, 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 was very envious of Leah because Leah was having children and she wasn't.  Rachel was the one Jacob really loved, but she said she was ready to die if she couldn't have a child.  Sometimes, it is easier to envy others because of their success in areas that we wish to succeed than it is to be thankful for what God has blessed us with.  Verse two states, And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?  Jacob became angry at Rachel's demand and asked if he were God to be able to give her a child.  As I have said before, I believe that God gives life to every child, no matter how they are conceived.  Verse three declares, And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.  Like Sarah, Rachel had a plan to get a child for herself.  Just as Sarah had given her maid to Abraham, Rachel gave her maid Bilhah to Jacob to have a child with.  Bilhah had even fewer rights than Rachel did, and evidently Rachel did not consider how Bilhah would be affected by this.  As followers of Christ, we cannot use those that we may have authority over simply to satisfy our own desires.  Verse four adds, And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.  Rachel carried out her plan, but we never hear of her consulting God about it.  When we make plans in life, we should always consult God first.  Verse five states, And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.  Blah gave Jacob another son.  Verse six adds, And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.  Though she must not have felt the same way about the sons of Leah, Rachel saw this child as one that God had given her.  We cannot just claim God's blessings on ourselves when our plans that have been made without Him are successful.  Verse seven declares, And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.  Bilhah gave Jacob another son.  Jacob may have loved Rachel, but he was perfectly willing to have children with other women.  When we love someone and are married to them, we should remain true to them in all aspects of life.  Verse eight adds, And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.  Rachel stated that she had wrestled, or had big problems with Leah, but now she had prevailed.  Instead of supporting each other in a situation that neither had created, the sisters were feuding.  When we are in a bad situation, especially one that is not of our making, we need not spend time blaming others, especially those who have no control over the situation.  Verse nine declares, When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.  When Leah did not have another child, she gave Jacob her maid Zilpah to have a child with.  I believe because she was afraid that Rachel would now really be preferred by Jacob.  Verse ten states, And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.  Then verse eleven adds, And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.  Like Rachel, Leah gave God credit for blessing her plan.  If we are to give God credit for our success, we must first know that we are following His will.  Verse twelve states, And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.  Like Bilhah, Zilpah had a second son with Jacob.  This was now eight children that Jacob had, and he was indeed on his way to becoming the father of a great multitude, but I personally do not feel that this was in accordance with God's plan.  Verse thirteen adds, And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.  Leah thought that people would call her blessed because her maid had given Jacob another son, though she really had very little to do with the birth of the child.  We cannot claim to do things in the name of God simply to claim praise for ourselves.

Genesis 29:25

Genesis 29:25 says, 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?  The next morning, Jacob asked Laban why he had beguiled him and given him Leah instead of Rachel.  Like Jacob, people are sometimes more upset when they are cheated than they are when they cheat others as Jacob had done with Esau.  Verse twenty-six states, And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Laban cited tradition as the reason.  Again, Jacob should have understood this,, since tradition said that the first born son would receive a father's blessing.  If we cheat others, we should not be surprised if others cheat us.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.  Jacob was basically told to accept Leah as his wife and that he would then be given Rachel for a wife as well, for which he would have to serve another seven years.  Having more than one wife at a time was never God's plan.  We have to wonder how Leah felt about this, since she knew that she was not the one that Jacob wanted.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.  After a week, Laban gave Jacob Rachel as his wife also.  As with Leah, we have to wonder how Rachel felt about this situation.  Neither were really given a choice, unless they defied their father.  Verse twenty-nine states, And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.  Laban gave Rachel one of his maids to be her handmade, as he had done in giving Leah a handmaid.  At least Laban seemed to not make a difference between his daughters.  Verse thirty declares, And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.  Jacob took Rachel as his wife also, but he loved her more than he did Leah.  Again, though she had done nothing wrong, Leah was in a bad situation.  Sometimes we may find ourselves in some bad situation through no fault of our own.  Jacob would work another seven years for having Rachel as his wife.  Jacob, Leah, and Rachel were all affected by Laban's plot.  Verse thirty-one declares, And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. God had mercy on Leah because of her situation.  We must pray that if we find ourselves in a bad situation that God will have mercy on us.  Verse thirty-two adds, 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.  Leah thought that when she had a son that Jacob would finally love her.  We can never force someone to love us, even if we give them what they may want.  Verse thirty-three adds, 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.  Verse thirty-four continues, 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.  Then verse thirty-five concludes, 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.  Leah had four sons.  She was still hoping that Jacob would love her, but after the birth of her last son, she simply said that she would praise the LORD.  We should never forget to praise God, no matter what our situation may be in life.

Genesis 29:12

Genesis 29:12 says, And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.  Jacob identified himself as Isaac and Rebekah's son.  He wasn't just some random stranger.  She ran to share the news.  Verse thirteen states, And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house.  Laban was just as excited to meet Jacob, so he ran to meet him and brought him home with him.  We today may never be as out of touch with relatives as people were in that day, unless it is by choice, but we are still usually excited to see relatives that we haven't seen in a while.  Verse fourteen adds, And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.  Laban recognized Jacob as a blood relative, and Jacob stayed with him for a month.  Of course, as followers of Christ, we have blood relatives, but we also have spiritual relatives, and hopefully many are both.  Verse fifteen declares, And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?  Whether Jacob had already been working during this month he had been there or not, Laban said he didn't expect him to work for free.  We should never expect our relatives, or our fellow Christians, to work for us for nothing.  This was more than just a few days work and was going to continue for awhile.  Laban asked Jacob to name his price.  Verse sixteen adds, And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  We already knew about Rachel, but Laban had an older daughter named Leah.  Verse seventeen continues, Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.  We are told more about Leah's character and about Rachel's looks.  Evidently Rachel was prettier than Leah.  We still often judge women more by their looks than by their nature or character.  Verse eighteen states, And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.  Jacob loved Rachel, whether because he had gotten to know her during the month he had been there or simply because he found her beautiful.  Jacob told Laban that he would work for him for seven years in order to have the right to marry Rachel.  I am not sure how many people today would be willing to work seven years in order to marry someone.  Verse nineteen says, And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.  Laban said that it was better that he allow Jacob to marry Rachel than for her to marry someone else.  We are not told how God's leadership was taken into consideration in this deal, nor are we told how Rachel felt about it.  When we as followers of Christ make plans, we must consider what God wants us to do, and also how our plans will affect others, especially if they are part of the plan.  Verse twenty declares, And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.  Jacob's love for Rachel was so strong that seven years only felt like a few days.  If we really love someone, then no matter how much we do for them it should always seem but a small thing to us.  Verse twenty-one adds, And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.  Jacob had fulfilled his part of the deal, and now he was ready to marry Rachel.  If we make an agreement with someone as Christians, then we should always do our best to fulfill that agreement.  Verse twenty-two states, And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.  Laban gathered everyone together and made a feast, supposedly to carry out his part of the agreement.  Verse twenty-three adds, 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.  Laban did not carry out his part of the agreement, sending Leah instead of Rachel to Jacob.  I believe that Leah is often the forgotten woman in this story.  She knew that Jacob loved Rachel, but she still had to do what her father told her to do.  We always need to consider how our actions will affect others, especially other followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-four adds, And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.  Laban gave Leah one of his maids as her handmade.