Our story starts with Jacob going to find himself a wife. He had deceived his father into giving him the blessing that should have went to his brother. His brother was so angry he wanted to kill him. So Jacob fled and started his journey towards Haran to find a wife from his mother’s brother home.
When Jacob arrived he fell in love with Rachel, the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother. Jacob agreed to work seven years for Laban so he could marry Rachel. He was so in love with her that seven years were like days to him.
After the seven years Laban gathered everyone and made a feast for the wedding. But Laban deceived Jacob and gave his oldest daughter Leah, for it was their custom to give the oldest in marriage first. So Jacob had to serve another 7 years for Rachel. But He loved her so much he was willing to do it.
Matthew Henry Note, Love makes long and hard services short and easy; hence we read of the labour of love, Heb. 6:10. If we know how to value the happiness of heaven, the sufferings of this present time will be as nothing to us in comparison of it. An age of work will be but as a few days to those that love God and long for Christ’s appearing.
This began a long feud between the sisters. “Whom would Jacob love the most?”
There was also hatred in this new family. The bible says that Leah was hated. But God had compassion on her and allowed her to bear a son. It is interesting to me that there seems to be a balance blessings. Rachel had the love of Jacob but barren, but Leah was blessed with children.
Jacob’s Children were born in envy, rivalry, & dispute. Anytime there is deception there will come other evil works. So begins the bitter feelings between the sisters. This sounds like Jacob and Esau’s situation. Jacob grew up in a divided and competitive home. Now his new family had the same.
Each child Leah had she was sure that it would cause Jacob to love her more. Jacob fulfilled his husbandly duties, but his heart belongs to Rachel.
The feud between the sisters continued. One time Leah even gave Rachel a mandrake from her son Reuben, for payment to have Jacob for the night. Mandrakes symbolize fertility. Rachel & Leah treated Jacob like a servant and used him as a pawn in their family feud. They bargained for him and he patiently went along. They continued to battle and offered their maids to Jacob so he could bear them children on their behave.
Over time of Jacobs had gone from the barterer to the one being bartered. The exchange between Leah and Rachel here also reminds us of the incident between Esau and Jacob over the birthright. In both, an established right is given up for a desired vegetable substance. Esau sells his birthright for a pot of lentil soup, while Rachel exchanges her “right” to lie with Jacob for Leah’s mandrakes. Jacob, who takes advantage of his brother’s desperate hunger and as a result his willingness to give up his status, is here the very object being bartered. As Esau could only think of his immediate gratification, so, too, can Rachel. The irony, of course, is that not only does Jacob become the object being bartered, but Leah’s actions remind us of his own behavior toward Esau – both seem in control and take advantage of their siblings.
Finally Rachel had a child and called him Joseph. Joseph would save the whole family during the time of a terrible famine. God blessed her and answered her prayers. Then she bore one last child, Benjamin, then she died at child birth.
We all can relate to the struggles of our human nature which brings with it, envy, jealousy, and so many fleshly actions. But we don’t have to let these kind of reactions in our lives. We have been born again and have received all things new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 5:18-25King James Version (KJV)
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:2-3King James Version (KJV)
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
In Time past we walked according to our flesh. We didn’t think twice about hating someone or committing any other act of the flesh. But now we are to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit and let Him change us from the inside out. He is forever changing us to the likeness of Christ. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
When we take our eyes off of God, and focus on self we see how we fall short. If as we fall short we look at others and their strengths and successes then we will continue to fall into the works of the flesh. We can only be fulfilled in Jesus and not in those things we see or the things we have. When we look at other we can feel inferior or jealousy, but remember this story of deception and the funding sisters. This feud is still going on today with the descendants of these women. But God took the sin of this family and worked it out for good. Through them came the nation of Israel.
God works all things for our good. Romans 8:28 (AMP) And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
So if you have had these feelings and have made a mess of your life, be of good cheer. Jesus has overcome the world.
John 16:33 (AMP) I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
So if you have not given your life to the one Jesus, do so today. In yourself you can not overcome your fleshly desirers. If you have given your life to Jesus. Surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and he will continue to transform your life!!!!
Angie Paxton's Blog 