Month: April 2025

Genesis 30:6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan.

I wonder what Rachel and Leah’s relationship was like before the marriage and baby debacle. Were they friends? Were they confidants? Did Rachel perceive herself as superior to Leah because of her beauty? Did Rachel always think she was better?

Genesis 30:7 Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 

Was the behavior we are seeing here–Rachel’s jealousy of Leah’s children–part of their relationship before or had they devolved? I find it interesting that, yet again, we have a family–in the line of Jesus, no less–that is incredibly dysfunctional. Yet God still uses them in a mighty way.

Genesis 30:8 Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali.

Precious Savior, We tend to think that our dysfunction disqualifies us for Your use. Yet You show us again and again and again that You can use anyone for Your Kingdom work. Thank You–that You can use us, warts and all, that You will use us, that You do use us. Help us to shine Your light for all to see. Amen.

Genesis 30:9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 29:33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.

Commentary says Leah was rejected by Jacob and despised by Rachel. We can tell with the naming of her first three sons that Leah was struggling with Jacob’s betrayal particularly. However, the naming of the fourth child, Judah, Hebrew for praise, shows that by the last child, Leah had turned her eyes toward God.

Genesis 29:34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.

Romans 8:28 says that God can use all things for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Leah, who was plain and unloved, was used by God to bring forth the line of Jesus. Leah, the plain sister, the wronged sister. I find that fascinating. Leah’s “consolation” is to be the matriarch of the line of Jesus? That’s big.

Genesis 29:35a She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that even when life doesn’t go as we planned, it can still be beautiful and impactful. Help us to focus on You, to shine for You, to be Your hands and feet. Use us according to Your purpose. Work all things for our good and Your glory. Amen.

Genesis 29:35b Then she stopped having children.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 29:30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

This situation is a gigantic mess. The only one who comes out of it completely happy is Laban because he now has two married daughters. Leah, who may be happy that she is no longer an “old maid” is definitely not happy at the fact that she is obviously not the beloved wife. Jacob and Rachel don’t seem to try to hide that fact at all.

Genesis 29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 

I would need a lot of therapy to move past the bitterness and anger of this entire situation. Honestly, if I were Leah, Rachel, or Jacob, I think I would struggle mightily as this mess could have so easily been avoided. I think my propensity towards anger and bitterness, towards blame and frustration is what God wants me to pay attention to in today’s scripture.

Genesis 29:32a Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,

Precious Savior, I know that anger and bitterness are not the right way to react. Those emotions have the potential to corrode every good thing in my life, yet they are so often default emotions. Help me to change my default in situations that make me angry and bitter. Help me to be more like You. Amen.

Genesis 29:32b …for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 29:26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 

Once again I dip into petty territory. My instinct is to say, “Serves Jacob right.” He tricked his father. He was tricked by his uncle. However, my heart hurts for the collateral damage–Leah and Rachel both. And if I’m honest, my heart hurts a little for Jacob, too, who worked for seven years only to end up married to the wrong sister.

Genesis 29:27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.”

Romans 12:19 says, “Vengeance is mine,” declares the Lord. I have learned firsthand that it’s best to leave vengeance to God. Honestly, I don’t have the heart for it. Even when someone “gets what they deserve,” I’ve found that it does not make me feel better. It hurts my heart for them because I’ve been hurt and know how bad that feels.

Genesis 29:28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that I do not have the heart for vengeance. Help me to move past the petty reaction of “Serves them right” when folks get what they “deserve.” Thank You that You don’t treat me as I deserve. Help me to give others the same compassion and grace that You lavish upon me, even if they don’t “deserve” it. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 29:29 Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 29:22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 

Once again, I wonder what the women think of this situation–not that it matters as their father had final say. Was Leah in favor of the plan? Was Rachel horrified at the plan? And what about Jacob? Did he grasp the absolute irony of this situation, that Laban had done to him something similar to what he did to his own father?

Genesis 29:23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. 

And what does God want me to learn from this scripture? The danger of duplicity? The cyclical nature of deception? The frustration and futility of planning your own way, of insisting on your plan, regardless of God’s will? Lord, I’m listening. Help me to understand.

Genesis 29:24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant.

Precious Savior, My heart hurts for so many of these people, and it is frustrating to realize that greed and selfishness are the cause of all the pain. But I know that I sometimes default to greed and selfishness, too. Forgive me. Help me, when I start down the road that leads to greed and selfishness, to stop, turn around, and return to You. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 29:25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 29:18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”

The transactional nature of women as property to be given at the whim and will of men angers me greatly, though I know that is “just how it was” at that time in that place. I wonder what Rachel thought of all of this. Did she like Jacob? Love him? Want this marriage? Clearly, it didn’t matter.

Genesis 29:19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 

But it does put Jesus’s view of women and their role in His ministry in a new light. During His active ministry, women were still seen as second-class citizens, yet He doesn’t treat them that way. Similarly, sinners and tax collectors were all-but-outcast, yet Jesus considered Himself a friend of sinners.

Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Precious Savior, It’s really easy to get sucked into the status quo, to accept what the world accepts and reject what the world rejects. Yet Your life, Your ministry showed us another way. Help me to see others as You see them, to love others as You love them. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 29:21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 29:14 Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 

If you are at all familiar with this story, you know that Laban is about to take advantage of Jacob. The small, petty, human side of myself says, “Serves him right.” Jacob took advantage of Esau (selling him stew for his birthright) and his father (tricking him into believing that he was Esau to receive the blessing). Neither of these actions was necessary because God had declared at their birth that the older would serve the younger.

Genesis 29:15 Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”

The good Christian in me knows what God wants me to learn and understand from today’s scripture. He knows my petty attitude is not right, not good–for me or for His glory. He knows that I need to be reminded–again and again and again–to trust Him, that He’s got things under control, that He has a sovereign plan–for my good and His glory. Help me, Jesus.

Genesis 29:16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that vengeance is Yours, not mine, that pettily saying, “Serves him right” is a mild form of vengeance and is a habit I need to break. Help me strive to give grace and mercy as You do so that I can shine Your light well. Amen.

Genesis 29:17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 29:10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. 

As a long time reader, I want more information about my characters in this scene. What was Jacob thinking? What was Rachel’s perception and response? Was Laban acting out of greed (he knew his nephew would inherit much from his Isaac)? And then, another thought: If God uses all of this to accomplish His purposes, does it matter what they are thinking and feeling?

Genesis 29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. 

If our actions result in God’s will being done, is the state of our heart, are our thoughts and our actions, important? I think so. I think *we* benefit more greatly if our hearts, our minds, our words, our actions are in the right place. God will be glorified regardless, but if we are in the right mental space, *we* will be blessed as well. I think He wants that for His beloved children.

Genesis 29:12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father.

Precious Savior, Sometimes my attitude stinks. A lot. Forgive me. Help me to get my heart and mind, my behavior and my actions right with You so that as I praise You, as I do Your will, Your blessings can find a home in my heart. That’s what You want for me. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 29:13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 29:6 Then Jacob asked them, “Is he well?” “Yes, he is,” they said, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.”

Perhaps it’s the time of year–Easter is quickly approaching–but as I read today’s verses, part of verse 8 jumps out to me: “…until…the stone has been rolled away…” Caves were a pretty commonly used item back then. I’m sure stones to seal the entrances were, too, but still it resonates.

Genesis 29:7 “Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.”

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. Then Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and then, finally, Easter Sunday, when the stone has been rolled away to reveal that He is Risen. He is risen indeed. But just like the shepherd boys, currently, we are waiting for the stone to be rolled away.

Genesis 29:8 “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.”

Precious Savior, Help us to be faithful in the waiting. Help us to shine Your light, to study Your word, to uplift Your people, to help each other home, even in the waiting. Help us, as we wait, to draw closer to You. Amen.

Genesis 29:9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd.

Have a blessed day.