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.
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
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