GENESIS 30
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” 2 Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3 Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” 4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. 7 Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali. 9 When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad. 12 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher. – Genesis 30
GENESIS 30 SIBLING RIVALRY BETWEEN LEAH & RACHEL
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
As Leah and Rachel competed who is the better wife for Jacob
They both tried to gain as much offspring for their husband
Because Rachel was barren, she used Bilhah to make children for her
And since Leah stopped bearing, she made Zilpah be her surrogate.
In this account, we see the generational patterns in Abraham’s family passed on to the generation of Jacob. We know that Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite and Esau, Isaac’s favorite son. We also see patterns of deceit in the life of Jacob when his wife’s father tricked him to marry Leah before he got to marry Rachel. Most of us run into issues like sibling rivalry and deceptions in the family.
It is almost hilarious yet dark to watch two women who are siblings be in bondage with their insecurities. Whenever we experience such negative feelings, we must be watchful as this can be an open door for the enemy to work on our hearts. When we feel insecure, we probably are not focusing on what God has already given us.
REFLECTION
- What makes one insecure and competitive as this account narrates to us?
