Author: Beth Duncan

Genesis 30:41 Whenever the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches,   

I’m not going to lie…when I first read yesterday’s and today’s verses, I thought Jacob was being sneaky again, was back to his old tricks. But commentary posits that while it’s possible that Jacob had some knowledge of animal reproduction, it is more likely that “Jacob did the best he knew, and God blessed it.”

Genesis 30:42a but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there.

I love the idea of doing the best you know how and allowing God to bless the results. I feel like that actually describes a lot of the ventures in my life–marriage, motherhood, teaching. Some days it feels like I am on fire and doing everything right–that’s God’s blessing. Some days it feels like more of a dumpster fire, where I have to apologize to everyone and try again tomorrow.

Genesis 30:42b So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob.

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your daily presence in my life. Thank You for those days when I am doing the best I know how and Your abundant blessings are lavished upon me. Thank You also for those days when I mess up at every turn. You are still with me. You extend grace and compassion to me. Help me to be gentle with myself on those days. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 30:43 In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 30:37 Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. 

Commentary says, “God blessed Jacob, but it was not because Jacob was an especially good person. It was because of the promises God made to Jacob and the covenant made to Abraham.” My initial reaction is to argue: What the heck, God? We have seen Jacob cheat and trick and lie. We have seen him be tricked and cheated and lied to. Why would You choose to bless him?

Genesis 30:38 Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, 

It doesn’t take me long, however, to realize that God has blessed me richly, too, and not because I’m a good person. I try, but I mess up every single day. And God has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. Ever. I think the comment I began with “God blessed Jacob, but not  because Jacob was an especially good person….” can be said about me, about you, about all of us.

Genesis 30:39 they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for seeing our hearts, for loving us fiercely, warts and all. Thank You for reminding me that You love and bless me, not because I am an especially good person but because I am Your deeply loved child. Help me love others the way that You love me. Amen.

Genesis 30:40 Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban’s animals. 

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 30:33 And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen.”

Today has me thinking about God’s presence, God’s providence, and God’s goodness. We often hope that God’s goodness means that nothing bad will happen to us or our loved ones. We all know that that is not how life works. Bad things happen all the time. It can be heart-breaking and faith-shaking.

Genesis 30:34 “Agreed,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.” 

But God is ALWAYS with us. I was just talking with a friend last night about the fact that we WANT God to make everything ok, but sometimes “all” He does is walk with us through the darkness and chaos so that we don’t have to face it alone. And that–not having to face the darkness and chaos alone–is incredibly powerful.

Genesis 30:35 That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that You love us fiercely and completely. Thank You that You promise to never leave us nor forsake. Thank You for the many, many blessings You lavish on us daily. Thank You that You always walk with us, holding us, through the difficult times. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 30:36 Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 30:29 Jacob said to him, “You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care. 

Today has got me thinking about beginnings and endings, and today’s verses seem to indicate an ending and a new beginning for Jacob and his family as well. Coming to an end is Jacob’s indentured servitude to Laban. He has worked long enough to earn Leah and Rachel and his children.

Genesis 30:30 The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?”

The new beginning is Jacob doing “something for my own household,” establishing a new path, setting new boundaries, carving out a new way. But change can be difficult, at least for me. It’s uncomfortable and often painful; however, change is absolutely necessary for growth.

Genesis 30:31 “What shall I give you?” he asked. “Don’t give me anything,” Jacob replied. “But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them: 

Precious Savior, Every day is a series of endings and new beginnings. Some are small, trivial, barely noticeable. Some are huge, earth-shattering, and change absolutely everything. Help us to remember that You are with us through it all. Help us as we adjust to change to hold on to Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” You’ve got us. Help us to trust You. Amen.

Genesis 30:32 Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 30:25 After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so I can go back to my own homeland. 

Since Jacob is requesting to go back to his homeland, I think it’s safe to assume that he has now worked for Laban for fourteen years–the original seven years that he worked for Rachel but was tricked into marrying Leah and the additional seven years that he worked to actually earn Rachel.

Genesis 30:26 Give me my wives and children, for whom I have served you, and I will be on my way. You know how much work I’ve done for you.”

I have problems with so much of this: the antiquated system that allows women to be earned as property, the trickery of Laban, the cattiness of Leah and Rachel, all those children and what they must be learning from the tension that must live in that household daily, Jacob who’s been wholly absent save for sleeping with wives and concubines to father all those children.

Genesis 30:27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” 

Precious Savior, The one thing I know with certainty is that You are sovereign and good. You are on Your throne. Regardless of the trickery and infighting that goes on in life, You are aware, You are working all things–ALL things–to our good and Your glory. Even if we can’t see it and don’t understand it, we can trust You. Thank You. Amen.

Genesis 30:28 He added, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 30:19-20 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.

This entire competition between Leah and Rachel makes me tired and sad. What is gained besides a gaggle of children and a boatload of hurt? And where is Jacob in all of this? Did he ever say, “Seriously, you two. Cut it out. This is ridiculous.”?

Genesis 30:21 Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

What are we supposed to learn from all of this? Rachel–the beautiful younger sister–”got hers” because after Jacob worked for seven years to “earn” her, Laban tricked him into marrying Leah. Then Leah had all the children (biologically). And when verse 22 says “then God remembered Rachel,” I don’t think He literally forgot her. But what do I do with all this?

Genesis 30:22-23 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 

Precious Savior, I know Your ways are beyond anything I can imagine. I’ve seen it, read about it time and again. But I don’t know what to do with this story of Leah and Rachel. What do you want me to focus on, to learn? Is it that You are sovereign and I should trust You even when I don’t understand? Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 30:24 She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 30:14 During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

First bit of information that is needed here is that mandrakes were thought to increase fertility. So, even now, this was about who had the most children as, surely, that showed who was the favored wife. We also see that Leah felt herself the original wife (and she was because of Laban’s trickery) and felt that Rachel, whom Jacob loved and worked seven years to obtain, had stolen Jacob from her.

Genesis 30:15 But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”

Additionally, we see that Rachel has the power in this relationship because she seems to have some say in who Jacob sleeps with when. Furthermore, we see that Leah and Rachel are still playing this “game” of who has more status, sway, and power within the home. My question is: to what end?

Genesis 30:16 So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.

Precious Savior, Forgive me when I forget that my purpose on this earth is to bring You praise and glory, to shine Your light. When I take my eyes off of You, I lose the thread of purpose in my life, just like Leah and Rachel. Help me to keep my eyes on You. Always. Amen.

Genesis 30:17-18 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 30:10 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 

Again I say, this family is a hot mess. Leah, who found happiness with the Lord after her fourth son Judah, derived from the Hebrew for praise, has utterly lost the thread of that happiness. Once again, it’s about who has more children. Clearly that tells them who is the favored wife, and “favored wife” or “most blessed” seems to be the coveted role in all this.

Genesis 30:11 Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gad.

And what is Jacob doing through all of this? Does he seek God at all? Does he just sleep with any warm body presented to him? Does he ever wonder what in the world he’s supposed to be doing? Do any of them think of the children at all and how their messed up dynamic will affect all those lives?

Genesis 30:12 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.

Precious Savior, Forgive us when we get so caught up in trying to accomplish our will that we forget to think of the cost, to ourselves and to others. Help us to align ourselves so completely with Your will for our lives that Your will for us becomes our will for ourselves. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 30:13 Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher.

Have a blessed day.

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.