Genesis Chapter 30

GENESIS 

CHAPTER 

30

1. When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, "Give me children or I shall die!"

(Genesis chapter 30 verse 1)

On a spiritual level we can also envy other people from a positive and even  negative perspective. From a positive perspective we may have an inner drive to do more than others in the Church in the sense of helping other people in need and doing more work in the local parish or abroad. However, this could this positive drive could easily change into a negative one, in the sense that we start comparing ourselves with others working in the Church or local community and have a strong will to compete with them in order to achieve personal pride, satisfaction, social approval over that of others under the guise of holiness.

Moreover I pray to God that all people in the world including even those people from different churches and religions to be inflamed with spiritual fervour in order to do more good for the benefit of others on both a spiritual, social and even psychological level in order to continually help improve the good of others.


2. Jacob became very angry with Rachel and said, "Am I in the place of God, who has from you the fruit of the womb?

(Genesis chapter 30 verse 2)


Jacob refers to a very important issue that is becoming an issue in our everyday life. Science is making giant steps as is the case of technology. Implants of human embryos, surrogate mothers etc are being practised. Humans at times are playing the role of God the creator, a role that is not rightfully theirs and never will it be. This is a very important fact that humans are always to keep in mind meaning that of respecting God as creator and not attempt to take his place as creators.


3. Then she said, "Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear upon my knees and that I too may have children through her. 4 So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife; and Jacob went in to her.

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 3 to 4)


On reflecting we witness the use and abuse of others in order to satisfy our own aims, wishes and or desires. Instead of referring to God who has the faculty of opening her womb, Rachel referred to her own devices and used her made in order to obtain offspring. Rachel did not consider that as in the case of Sarah and Abraham Rachel sold her husband to Bilhah and that the flame of love would kindle in her servant for Jacob. Selling her husband to Bilhah was as bad as Esau's selling his birthright for a bowl of soup. On reflecting we are to learn to respect our marriages and even our wives and husbands for who and what they are, and not value them for what talents they have.


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 named him Dan.

(Genesis chapter 30 verse 5)


Rachel was grateful that God had answered her prayer, however it is not right to say that God had judged her. It would have been better to say that God had done justice with her by giving her a son. God only judges us when we do bad things not when we do, wish or pray for good things out of love.


7. Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, with mighty wrestling's I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed"; so she named him Naphtali.

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 7 to 8 )


Verses seven to eight give us the impression that the reason that Rachel wanted to conceive more children was that of being better than her sister with whom she was competing. I imagine that she might have thought that if she bore Jacob more children than her sister Jacob would love her more. However in truth even when she was still barren Jacob already loved her more than her sister Leah.


In our spiritual life we can fall into the same temptation, that of attempting incredible feats such as fasting for many days more than a particular person in order to obtain an increase of the love of God or more of his graces in grants and benefits more than the latter person. In such circumstances it would have been better to  attempt, to compete with ourselves in loving that person more than before instead of showing envy or spite.


9. When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Then Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son.

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 9 to 10)


It seems that the competition between the two sisters was in full swing, however without their knowing God's plan for our salvation was in a process of unfolding. It was according to the will of God that was originally given to Abraham that through him and his descendants namely Jacob many offspring would be born. Therefore this 'competition' between the sisters was a way to increase the amount of offspring. However the means being the fruit of envy and spite could never justify God's end, that is the unfolding of His plan. The birth of children is to be the fruit of love between the couple not the fruit of envy.


11. And Leah said "Good fortune!" so she named him Gad. 12 Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, "Happy am I! For the women will call me happy"; so she named him Asher."

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 11 to 13)


Instead of blessing God for giving her offspring Leah attributed her capacity to bear Jacob more fortune as being a lucky streak of good fortune. There are moments in life, when we attribute our successes, either as the fruit of our good skills and reputation instead of being the fruit of God's love for us and His Divine providence.


14. In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes." 15 But she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrake's also?" Rachel said, "Then he may lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes."

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 14 to 15)

On reflecting we can observe that when the Devil takes control over us, he can change our attitude and even harden our hearts to make us bitter and spiteful. We end up unable to be open to listen to the will and voice of God. In order to make matters worse the Devil tends to confuse situations such as in, that referred to in verses fourteen to fifteen.

The main issue referred to in this situation was that of sharing of God's providence. However the situation between the sisters had degraded to such an extent, that the plea for 'some' of the mandrakes was taken as being a plea for 'all' the mandrakes, for which Rachel gave Leah, the opportunity of having intercourse with Jacob as a means of payment for the mandrakes.


16. When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him, and said, "You must must come in to me; for I have hired you with my son's mandrakes," So he lay with her that night.

(Genesis chapter 30 verse 16)


Genesis chapter 30 verse 16 is another typical example of how people can be used and abused. The sacred act of intercourse which according to the will of God is of great value, is in this context subjected to being part of a business transaction. Moreover on analysing Jacob's behaviour we can observe that it did not matter to him with which women he lay and share his love with because in a way they were both his wives. The value of fidelity to a single wife is compromised, when the person has a second or third relationship, this in time becomes a problem that puts alot of stress on the family system and functionality is greatly reduced.


17. And God heeded Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, "God has given me my hire because I gave my maid to my husband"; so she named him Issachar. 19 And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 Then Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons"; so she named him Zebulun. 21 Afterwards she bore a  daughter, and named her Dinah.

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 17 to 21)



On reflecting the current trend during these times is that the more children one bears the more love, the husband will have for the wife. Moreover having many children reflects God's blessing as previously referred to in previously chapters.


 22.  Then God remembered Rachel, and God heeded her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach"; 24 and she named him Joseph, saying, "May the LORD add to me another son!"

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 22 to 24)


On reflecting on verses 22 to 24 we are given the impression that God can ever forget us. The author of the book of Genesis, gives God human attributes when saying that He remembered Rachel. We are always in God's sight, He has our names inscribed on the palm of His hand, therefore he can never forget us. A person who loves the other is always thinking of her as in the case of two people who are courting with the intention to be married. With God it is the same thing. God is always thinking of us. Our spiritual, social, economical and psychological well being is always on His mind because He sincerely loves us.


25. When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know very well the service I have given you."

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 25 and 26)


Jacob had spent fourteen whole years away from his family, knot knowing if they were still alive, especially when considering that Isaac was already of an age. Moreover as Jacob stated it was his right to go home, now that he had paid the price in full.


On reflecting we can remember how many times we stood up for our rights, or those of others. We may also remember our feelings at the time. Therefore God as our father also has a right for our love, praise and worship. Therefore it is our duty to contribute our share to Him and to our fellow persons. God also feels hurt when we do not reciprocate our love, care, praise and worship to Him.


27. But Laban said to him, "If you will allow me to say so, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you; 28 name your wages, and I will give it."

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 27 to 28)


In contrast to Jacob who found his fullfilment  in acting according to the will of God, Laban found his answers by a false and corrupt means. This is divination which entails giving worship to false gods in order to obtain the necessary information, that at times was not true at all. However in this case it was true that Laban was blessed by means of Jacob's presence. God had said to Abraham and his descendants, that He would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse you.


29. Jacob said to him, "You yourself know how I have served you, and how your cattle have fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly; and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now When shall I provide for my own household also?

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 29 and 30)


When God makes his presence felt this results in great abundance. Moreover if we pray to God to bless our family, our work etc He will surely send his blessing. We may not all become millionaires, however our greatest investment is in God and not in material goods. Moreover Jacob expresses the need to provide for his own family which in time had greatly increased. Apart from our own families, nuclear, extended etc, we have obligations to our macro family that is the body of Jesus Christ meaning the world in general. This implies that we are to do our best, everybody according to his resources and abilities with the help of God to help others who may be in need.


31. He said, "What shall I give you?" Jacob said, "You shall not give me anything; if you will do this for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it; 32 Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages. 33 So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me shall be counted stolen."

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 31 to 33)


On reflecting it can be said that evil is never satisfied. It always wants more until it exhausts its resources, however when it does not need them any more evil discards them forever. Laban had found in Jacob an investment. On realising that his investment was going to face a crisis, he gathered his associate around the round table for a management meeting. However God is smarter than the Devil and his servant Laban. God enables Jacob to formulate a perfect plan, that would ultimately justify Jacob's plea and even provide him with a safe escape from the clutches of evil. Moreover according to this plan God even provides Jacob with the adequate resources for his livelihood.


34. Laban said, "Good! Let it be as you have said." 35 But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black and put them in charge of his sons; 36 and he set a distance of three day's journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob was pasturing the rest of Laban's flock.

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 34 to 36)


It seems that evil has no boundaries. In order to thwart or spoil Jacob's plan Laban intervened by removing all the males and females that were speckled from his flocks so that Jacob's plan would fail and he would stay with him for an extended period that may have been based on Laban's conditions. The Devil hates us with a sick passion. Even in the Church he tries to cause divisions which mess up its unity as we have witnessed throughout the years even up to the present.


37. Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the rods. 38 He set the rods that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, 39 the flocks bred in front of the rods, and so the flocks produced young that were striped, speckled, and spotted.

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 37 to 39)


With reference to the breeding of flocks I am not a reliable authority. Breeding without males in front of rods makes it more difficult to explain, however God's plans and his ways are not always in level with human understanding or rationality (we are underdeveloped compared to the intelligence of God). However for God there is nothing that is considered to be impossible, therefore God's plan actually unfolded by means of the plan that He had passed on to Jacob.


40. Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and the completely black animals in the flock of Laban; and he put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban's flock.

(Genesis chapter 30 verse 40)


Some of us may think that god may intervene by means of magical moments, however at times such as that given in verse 40, God makes good use of our own skills in order to help us out in the given situation.


41. Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding. Jacob laid the rods in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the rods, 42 but for the feebler of the flock he did not lay them there; so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

(Genesis chapter 30 verses 41 to 42)


Apparently as a shepherd Jacob was able to use his skills and manipulate the situation in his favour. Many times this happens alot throughout our daily lives. Those who are unskilled or maybe unschooled are at the mercy of the professionals, who may bleed them of their already reduced resources by using their skills to benefit from an already morbid situation.


 43. Thus the man grew exceedingly rich, and had large flocks, and male and female slaves, and camels and donkeys.

(Genesis chapter 30 verse 43)

It seems that Jacob's plan backed by the providence of God had its reward for it is written that Jacob grew very rich. However what may seem to be 'good fortune' was according to God's plan for our salvation, in the sense that God had willed that Jacob would father a great nation. This meant that Jacob would be in need of both material but also spiritual resources for the well being of himself and his family. God on sensing the need as according to His plan,  helped Jacob on both levels.


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer.


Thank you God for your, Love, Majesty and power. You have the power to open up a womb to generate offspring and you have that same power to close it where and when you consider it as necessary. I thank you for all the babies that are born in the world, and pray for the souls of the innocent ones that are innocently slaughtered while still in the womb. 

I pray to you oh God, that you show us today that you are still in control, so that we will not continue to play being God in both our lives and even in that of others. Help me and others to be motivated to lend a hand, but not to manipulate the situations of others to my advantage under the guise of helping.

Thank You God for all the skills you have given me throughout my life. Although I am currently not bearing the full load of fruit of skills that you have given me, I still thank you for the skills that I am currently using in my home and work situations and in any other setting where you call me to be in.

Thank You God

  

Genesis Chapter 29

GENESIS 

CHAPTER

 29

 1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and, three flocks of sheep lying beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered: The stone on the well’s mouth was large.3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherd would roll the stone from the mouth, of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.  Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where do you come from?" They said, "We are from Haran" 5 He said to them, "Do  you know Laban son of Nahor?" They said, "We do."6. He said to them, Is it well with him?" "Yes," they replied,  "and, here is , his daughter Rachel coming with the sheep.

(Genesis chapter 29 verses 1 to 6)

After receiving blessings from God Jacob continued his journey and finally reached the land of the people of the east. Jacob found a well in a field and there were three flocks of sheep near the well waiting to be watered. However in order to give water to the flocks of sheep on top of the well  was a stone or a rock that was used, to control the flow of water. Jacob asked one of the shepherds about Laban's whereabouts. They replied that they knew Laban the son of Nahor. Moreover in relation to his well being they said that he was well and that his daughter Rachel was coming with the sheep.

In previous chapter Jacob was sent away by his father on a journey that Jacob he did not know how long it would take him what difficulties he would face during his journey. However Jacob was assured by God that he would look after him. Moreover God had fulfilled part of His promise by means of  Jacob and his safe arrival to the land of the people of the east who were his father's relatives.

Even today God promises us whenever we follow God's will He will be with us, even though like Jacob and many others, we may face many difficulties. More over during such challenging moments we may sometimes start to doubt if God is on our side or not but in fact and in reality and truth God is always by our side he is always there for us and ready to help us especially during the challenging moments of our life.

7. He said, "Look, it is still broad daylight: it is not time for the animals to be gathered together: Water the sheep, and go and pasture them .8 But they said, "We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered together, and the stone is rolled the from the mouth of the well ; then we water the sheep".

(Genesis chapter 29 verses 7 to 8)

Jacob commented that the day had already had advanced in time for both the flock and the men however the sheep cannot be watered until all the flocks are gathered together. 

In these verses just as the shepherds are responsible for the well-being of sheep by watering them taking care of them. We are also like the sheep in the sense that we cannot be saved only on our own but even as a community and or Church. We are like the sheep, waiting on God our shepherd to give us his life giving water (blessings) He blesses us guides and takes care of us just like a shepherd.  Without him there would be no one to take care of us, we would wander alone, in this world alone without no aim or sense of direction our life would be utter chaos.

9. While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them. 10 Now when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, and the sheep of his mother’s brother Laban, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of his mother’s brother Laban. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father. 13 When Laban heard the news of his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him: he embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things. 14 and Laban said to him, "Surely you are my bone and my flesh!". And he stayed with him  a month.

(Genesis chapter 29 verses 9 to 14) 

While Jacob was still speaking Rachel arrived with her father's sheep since she was a shepherd. On seeing  Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother with her father's sheep Jacob took a liking to her. God may have placed these positive feelings in Jacob to help start of the long lasting relationship that would in time lead to their marriage. 

In His relationship with us God also stimulates our feelings and ideas in order to help enable and nourish His relationship with us. On realising  that the situation was from God, Jacob took responsibility for the situation and was not passive, he went to the well rolled away, the stone from the well mouth and watered the flocks of Laban his mother's brother

Jacob greets Rachel and told her about himself and his father's relationship with her father Laban. On reflecting we can ask ourselves the following question. When meeting others, especially people who do not believe in God, do we proclaim to them that we are Christians, and that God is our father? Do we believe in the good news of the Word of God or is it all one big fairy tale?

On having witnessed the good news Rachel went to share it with Laban. On receiving the good news of the Word of God we are also to share it with joy to others and not keep it for our selves. On receiving the good news Laban came and embraced him, greeted him and brought him to his house, however his intention was different from that of Rachel and Jacob. Laban was aware that God had been with Abraham, and that his wealth had increased greatly. Therefore being hospitable to Jacob would been benefiting from that same bounty and riches, that even Jacob had inherited through the status of being the son of Abraham. Moreover Jacob told Laban about the will of God that stated that he would marry one of his daughters. I would imagine that during this communication Jacob referred directly to Rachel whom he had just met and loved at first sight. On the other hand Laban  who welcomed the messenger's prospective wealth more than the messenger and the will of God accepted to welcome Jacob in his home for a month.


Not all people accept God in their lives with the same agenda. Unlike some people there are those who have a crooked agenda which does not have a good end. However there are others such as Jacob who placed their trust in God and such people are never on the wrong track because God our father guides us in our ways end ensures our well being and protects us from evil ways.

15 Then Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be? 16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were lovely,  and Rachel was graceful and  beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel ." 19 Laban said, " It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to  any another man: stay with me. 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, because of the love he had for her.

(Genesis chapter 29 verses 15 to 20)

Laban  asks Jacob the price or wages that he expected for him, since Laban did not expect Jacob to give him free labour on the account that he was his relative. Making it simply we can infer that logically it follows that everybody or almost everybody has a price, and that nobody would wilfully give free service. However this is not always the case. There are many people who work on a voluntary basis and expect nothing in return. Jesus said that all that we do for others is as if we are doing it for him. When we give of our time, money, love, care and so on, in order to help others this is a very noble act. The world would be a much better place, if we would foster this attitude of thinking or being actively concerned about others, as much or more than we are concerned about our own needs and affairs.

Jacob who at this point of his spiritual journey was still a novice named his price, that was Rachel the daughter of Laban. If we were to make a choice between material needs such as wealth, fame etc over the choice of our salvation, I wonder what our choice would be. The options would be based on two criteria, have fun on earth and perish in hell as a consequence. I do not wish to give the impression that God wants us to be sad, downcast or depressed in order to reach our salvation, however on the other hand, we have to make a distinction between the joy and pleasures given by the world, to the pleasures and joy  and tribulations that are, given to us by God as a consequence of following his ways.

 Laban had two daughters. The elder daughter's name was Leah, while the name of her sister was Rachel. Rachel was beautiful both in form and in appearance, however, Leah's eyes were weak and was not beautiful in appearance. On reflecting these two categories have particular significance. There are people, who according to the standards given by the world, are cool, rich and sexy, however, on a spiritual level, they are ugly because the presence of God does not dwell in them. On the other hand there are also people who are not as handsome in appearance (men and women, I am not a sexist or against beautiful people since God made all beautiful, the reflection of Himself) and when analysing their spiritual life, they are extraordinary in both their belief and better still in their actions or and ministry or service to others. In a nutshell on reflecting, spiritual beauty is far better than only physical beauty, however the balance is always the best. On the other hand, I cannot imagine anyone who marries a woman who is a saint in character and a terror in appearance, so much that he has to wear dark glasses to avoid seeing him or her.   

While going back to our text we can reflect, that Laban noticed that Jacob showed sincere love for Rachel and accepted his offer for the hand of Rachel. So Jacob  gave Laban seven years of service in order to have Rachel as his wife. Due to the fact that Jacob really loved Rachel the seven years seemed to be as if only a few days.  On reflecting we can ask our selves if we enjoy spending time with God or not, whether the time we spend in service to others is tedious or enjoyable in the sense that we are being of service to both God and others, even though this may be of a sacrifice of our resources, of which time may be one of our rarest possessions.

As previously mentioned Laban's agenda was totally materialistic in contrast to that of Jacob, who was following the will of God and his parents. During our everyday life we may meet many people such as Laban who may harm us and even others by committing sins due to our many emotions based on drives such as greed, envy, etc. 

As is written in verses 15 to 20 from chapter twenty-nine of the book of Genesis, Laban as a consequence of his greed tried to take advantage of the, situation and accepted that Jacob would serve him for seven years in exchange of his younger daughter to which Jacob gave his consent, since he loved Rachel . Similarly we should not take advantage of other's sensitive situations as it may directly or indirectly hurt them, because using other's weaknesses and hurting them is a great sin that one can commit, however, it was as a consequence of Jacob's love towards Rachel that he accepted the conditions of work and served Laban for seven years .Similarly If we truly love God in our lives if we truly trust Him then we are able to overcome any difficulty in our life and there is no force on earth that can break this bond between us.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, that I may go in unto her, for my time is completed. 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. 23 But in the evening, that he took  his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in into her. 24 (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 25 When morning came,  it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I  not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me? 26 Laban said, "This is not done in our country, giving the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week, of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me  another seven years. 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week: then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel  as a wife. 29 (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also unto Rachel, also and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years.

(Genesis chapter 29 verses 21 to 29)

After having completed the required seven years Jacob asked Laban to give him, his younger daughter since his service was complete. Laban agreed and gathered the people of the place and made a feast. During the late hours of the night Laban, took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob who, was unaware that she was Leah, and Jacob slept with her until, morning, when he realised that it was Leah and not Rachel with whom he had slept. Jacob went to Laban wanted to know why Laban had been deceptive in his ways, especially when considering that, he had served him for seven years for Rachel and not Leah. Laban shrewdly replies that according to the customs of his country the younger one is not given before the older one, and that if he wanted Rachel he had to serve him for another seven years. Since Jacob loved Rachel he agreed to stay another seven years.

God always watches, over us. He know us very well more than we can ever know our selves. Due to the fact that God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient He is always aware of our actions both positive and negative. He is a kind father who does not punish us for our sins however as sinners we are expected to atone for them no matter what either on earth or in heaven or hell. 

As in case of Jacob he deceived both brother Esau and his father Isaac by receiving the blessing that was legally meant to be for Esau as the first born son. In a nice way instead of punishing Jacob for his deception God  permitted Jacob to be deceived by Laban. God acts in the same way with us. He hates our sins, but loves us as sinners and does not permit us to receive a punishment that is beyond our capacity to handle. Unlike humans, who administer the death penalty, abort children or commit euthanasia, in order to justify themselves and their actions or in order to bring about what they consider as being justice God shows love and mercy, without being unjust in His ways.

 31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, "Because the LORD has looked on my affliction; surely now my husband will love me. 33 She conceived again, and bore a son; and said, "Because the Lord has heard that I was hated, he has given me this son also" and she named him Simeon. 34 Again she conceived and bore a son; and said, "Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons": therefore he was named  Levi. 35 She conceived again, and bore a son: and she said, "This time I will praise the LORD"; therefore she named him Judah; then she ceased bearing.

(Genesis chapter 29 verses 31 to 35)

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated and not loved as much as Rachel by Jacob he blessed her with a child and she bore a son which she called named Reuben, because she felt that God, had looked upon  the misery of her situation. Leah thought that now her husband would love her. She conceived again and bore a son and felt that God had heard that she was being hated and she gave Jacob another son whom she named Simeon. God has mercy on the misery of our situations and does not permit us to remain in the stinking depths of our sins. 


Since Leah conceived three sons to her husband Jacob she thought he would love her more but as in everyday life this was not the case. A lot of women fall into such trap and decide to entice their partners into having children in order to save the relationship, however this at times backfires, and the women have to bear the consequences of their crooked intentions.


Leah named her the third son Levi  and again she was conceived and bore a son and this time she thanked God for giving her four sons and she, named the fourth son Judah. Thanks giving is very important. During our everyday interactions it is considered to be good manners to say 'thank you'. On a spiritual level God also appreciates when we reciprocate in an attitude of thanksgiving to Him.  After having had given birth to four sons she stopped giving birth. God permits everything to happen for a reason that, as humans we may not always understand, this is the case also in the case of Leah. God has the faculty of making a person fertile to serve his cause, while on the other hand He has the same faculty to make another barren, in order to serve his cause.

As I previously mentioned, God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient he always watched over us he know us very well each of our action, emotions, though, he always listens to us and our prayer and helps us in our difficulties by blessing us. God's blessing may come in different forms, such as sending us help at a critical time in our life, or by or by means of a miracle that may humanly be considered as being a coincidence but in truth it would be the will of God in action. According to His will we are never unhappy, however  it highly depends on ones ability and will to choose to live and act according to His will. God helps us to live according to His ways. As seen in this chapter in the case of Jacob Rachel and Leah God intervenes in the situation in order to help improve Jacob's love for Leah to increase so that his hatred of her would change to love and care, however ultimately God also depends on our cooperation in order to see His plan actually fulfilled. Therefore we are to always place our trust in God for he is always with us.

I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:

God thank you for the promises you have made for my own good. Thank you for being the shepherd of my life. When considering that today the world is filled with much insecurity, fear, war, and worry, etc. It is You who gives me the strength to face all these challenges. Without you I would be a helpless child without any support. 

Thank you God 

(Chapter 29 was written by Mr. Deevain ajit pawar)

Genesis Chapter 28

GENESIS 

CHAPTER 

28

1.So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. ² Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.³May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. ⁴ May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.” ⁵ Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

(Genesis chapter 28 verses 1 to 5)

One day Isaac called Jacob and commanded him not to marry a Canaanite woman and he should go to Laban  paddan aram  to bethuel his mother father house and to select his wife among the daughter of Laban his mother's brother. Furthermore, Isaac further blesses Jacob by saying that may God bless him and he he produce enough offspring’s  till they become a community of people, he further blesses him by saying may lord bless you and your family just like the lord has blessed Abraham and he may take possession of the lands that once belonged to Abraham and sent him off on his way.

In this verse Isaac place his trust in God in finding a wife for his son. God guides Jacob to his destination and tells him about it and blesses him by saying that Jacob and his descendants will inherit the blessing given by God to Abraham since Abraham followed God’s orders and trusted him completely. This lead to the creation of an unbreakable bond between God and Abraham. Similarly in our lives we all must try to make such a bond with God by placing our trust in Him as His blessings are always upon us and he will be always there for guiding us.

⁶ Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,”⁷ and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram.⁸ Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac;⁹ so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had.

(Genesis chapter 28 verses 6 to 9)


Esau realises the mistake he had done and how much his father strictly forbade his descendants to marry Canaanite women as according to the will of God therefore he, went to Ishmael and married Mahalath the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael ( son of Abraham ) in spite of being already married.

In life we tend to make a lot of mistakes due to the fact that we are not perfect like God. Just as Esau made a big mistake by marrying Canaanite women this made his parent’s lives bitter or utterly sad (as referred to in chapters 26 verse 34 & 35 ) moreover he realised his mistake and try to correct it. In our lives we  tend to make mistakes but the  Lord always look upon us and see us lovingly and compassionately. He is always there for us to help us, although sometimes we are to naive and may not be aware of God. We foster this negative attitude towards God in spite of  the fact that God is always the first to lend a helping hand and always gives us a chance to correct our mistakes.

¹⁰ Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. ¹¹ When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

(Genesis chapter 28 verses 10 to 11)

After  Isaac had given Jacob clear instructions in relation to from where he would seek his future wife, Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran to find a wife for himself thus as according to the will of God. After having had travelled for some time, he came to a certain place and stayed there for the night to, rest because the sun had set and it would have been to difficult to navigate at the proper direction, so he took one of the stones and put it under his head and used it as a pillow and went to sleep.

When reflecting on this verse we can infer Jacob was being tested by God to obey both Him and others. The first test or trial was when in total obedience to the will of his father Jacob set out on to a path that he did not know the actual outcome of his journey in the sense if it would be a success or not. In life we are often tested by God in some way or other. Some may view a situation as a problem or difficulty but in fact it may be God who is testing us because it is by means of these tests they are a way of helping us to know God better and getting closer to him. God never gives us problems that are too tough to handle. He always gives us tasks or challenges that in the end increase our happiness that when based on God will last forever. Therefore we are always to thank God, for giving us a chance to know him better.

^12. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it¹³ There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.¹⁴ Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.¹⁵ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

(Genesis chapter 28 verses 12 to 15)

During his sleep he had a dream. He dreamt that there was a ladder that had its base set up on the earth and that its upper stairs reached heaven from where angels were ascending and descending following God’s commands and the lord stood right above of them.God introduces himself to Jacob and blesses him by saying that God had promised to give the land on which he was to him and to his offspring’s that would increase so much as to spread abroad to the west and to the east to the north and south. Lord told Jacob that both himself and his offspring and all the families on earth shall be blessed and further more God assured his promise to Jacob that he would always be with him and keep him safe no matter where he is. God even promised him that He would give Jacob the land that had once belonged to Abraham and God would never leave him until He had fulfilled his promise through Jacob and his descendants.

Just as God helped Jacob and assured him and promised to help him this is a source  of inspiration for us during our journey on earth. As a result Jacob was able to place trust in him and so should all believers even if they are not Christians. In our lives God plays an important role. He is active and always look upon us and always help us in our good or bad times by being a source of inspiration, confidence ,etc or by sending someone in our lives whether it be friends or family ,etc. He directly or indirectly help us as he did with Jacob as sons and daughters of God we should place our complete trust in him and follow his path, as he will never lead us to wrong way.

¹⁶ When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”¹⁸ Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear ²¹ so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God ²² and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

(Genesis chapter 28 verses 16 to 22)

Next morning Jacob when Jacob realised that God was on his side previously  he may have been unaware of this thing He interpreted is dream as though that special location was the house of God and the true gateway. He took the stone and set up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it and named that place bethel (That was previously called Luz) and he makes a vow that if God will be with him and on his journey and provides him with food and clothes ensuring a safe return to his father then he would truly accept God as his God. Moreover the pillar that he erected was done so in order to commemorate the covenant done between Jacob and God thus sealing the covenant as in a business transaction.

Just as God was with Jacob and helped him and promised him that He would always be with him. God is also always on our side he is always there for us and he never deceives us or try to trick us. God is a kind father who looks upon his children and is always there for us. Although at times we sometimes may realise or not whether we are vowed or promised to God in some way or other at one moment or another especially during times of crisis we are to place our complete thrust in him. It is during such moments that we will become closer to Him.

I would like the reader to take few minutes  of your time and try to recollect or remember  when you think God has,  played an active part in your life.  I believe that most of us on reflecting about it this  will find ,discover and realise how and when God has played an important role in our lives as when he found us  a lovely wife/husband, friend/best friend or just saved us from some life threatening accident. These  are not coincidences or may not be called miracles but they are all acts of God’s intervention in our lives. God loves us so much that He will never want to see us unhappy. Although at times He may test us but in the end, He always gives us a never ending happiness.

I would like to end this chapter with the  following prayer

Thank you GOD our loving, father, for looking over us and taking care and thank you very much for making me realise my mistake which may cause many sins, thank you for playing an active role in my life by testing and helping me in life directly or indirectly and  as without you playing an active part in my life I don’t know what would become of my life thank you

Ahmen