Genesis 29:19-30:34

1. Genesis 29:19-30:34 Learning from Stories

2. 31 When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing. (Genesis 29:31-35)

3. 1 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” 2 Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3 Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” 4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. 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 called his name Dan. 7 Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali. (Genesis 30:1-8)

4. 9 When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Then Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad. 12 Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher. (Genesis 30:9-13)

5. 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 mandrakes also?” Rachel said, “Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son's mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. 17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar. (Genesis 30:14-18)

6. 19 And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. 21 Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah. (Genesis 30:19-21)

7. 22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!” (Genesis 30:22-24)

8. 22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!” (Genesis 30:22-24)

9. Main Point • These verses describe the growing family via Leah, Bilhah, Zilpah, and Rachel • From these come eleven of the twelve sons of Jacob • Despite their jealousness and scheming, it is God’s grace that outshines human manipulations

10. Application Points • Descriptive v. Prescriptive • Has anyone wondered about this story? • How can Leah and Rachel offer their servants to Jacob and how can Jacob just accept! • At this we need to take a breath • We can easily wonder how they can make such immoral choices • Doesn’t the Scripture show us the way we should go? • There are things within the Scriptures we would call descriptive and those which are prescriptive

11. Application Points • Descriptive v. Prescriptive (2) • Today we have a story which we would call descriptive • It is describing something that happened • It is simply telling the story • Contrast this with what is prescriptive • The Scriptures prescribe something • Examples: The Law, Ten Commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength” • They prescribe to us what to do, how to live

12. Application Points • Descriptive v. Prescriptive (3) • When we come upon certain stories, they are merely describing the events • Some stories we find are good, individuals we should emulate • Many times they show us evil, and we should not emulate them • How do we know which is the case? • Well in this story we aren’t told to go live a polygamous lifestyle • We see how the relationships quickly became problematic • We can also go beyond the story to other places in Scripture • We remember, God made them male and female, one husband and one wife and they became one flesh • One husband and one wife is the standard

13. Application Points • Descriptive v. Prescriptive (4) • When you read the Scriptures remember that all because something is described doesn’t mean it is endorsed, encouraged, or prescribed • The Scriptures are filled with broken individuals who made good and bad choices • It is our responsibility to learn from the stories themselves, and in light of the rest of the Scriptures

14. Application Points • Learning from Stories • There are a number of things we can learn from this story • Stories are a great way for us to learn many things • There are four things • The first is the way the text describes the children • God is the one who grants the blessing of children in people’s lives • They are considered a blessing from God • Today we are little more than numbers, machines, to be used, and discarded • Thus many states have been passing more open abortion laws than ever before • Some believe it isn’t that harsh, but the language itself testifies to it’s harshness • It is purposefully vague because the unborn have no worth

15. Application Points • Learning from Stories (2) • These laws are being passed based upon presuppositions that the unborn are not human • How much of a contrast is this from the Scriptures? • “Give me a child!” “Am I God?” • The narrator of the story says, “God opened her womb” and “God remembered her” and “God heard her” • And how the women praise God for the blessing of children • We can all learn not to take children for granted • Whether biological or spiritual • We can rejoice with every child born and be thankful and contribute to their well being by teaching them about God

16. Application Points • Learning from Stories (3) • The second point is how covetousness is a dangerous thing • Leah covets over the love Jacob has for Rachel, Rachel covets over Leah’s children • When we covet each others blessings it leads to bitterness and anger • Instead of being satisfied with the blessings themselves, they focus on what they want to get • The depth of the problem isn’t necessarily with our affections placed on the object • Rather it is in our inability to be thankful to God who gives by His grace

17. Application Points • Learning from Stories (4) • This doesn’t mean we can’t have desires • I could desire to have all my school debts paid off • I could also hear about an individual who’s school debts were paid off because of generosity and instead of rejoicing think, “Why can’t that be me!” • It’s ok to have desires, but not covet them • It isn’t that Rachel is wrong in her desire to have children • It’s her covetousness that is the problem, and how that leads to her willingness to do anything

18. Application Points • Learning from Stories (5) • The third point is all because you have a desire it doesn’t mean you should do whatever it takes to get it • In our own time, or at least our culture, we usually do not have the problem of women giving their servants to their husbands • We do have people who want things and then get into debt, or business owners who do immoral and unethical things in order to get higher profits • It’s not wrong to desire your business to be profitable • It isn’t wrong to desire to go to college, or to get something you can’t currently afford • It’s when we do unwise or evil things to get our desires that leads to serious problems

19. Application Points • Learning from Stories (6) • This leads to the fourth point…we are all leaning on the grace of God • We are dependent upon God’s blessing • Despite basically everyone’s failure, God still blessesby His grace • It isn’t by how good you are, but it is by God’s grace and His will • Why God would do some things for some, but not for others • Only because we know the rest of the story do we know that God’s will would be for the 12 tribes • The reason why God may bless some rather than others isn’t necessarily based on our goodness • Instead, it depends on God knowing far more than we know

20. Application Points • Learning from Stories (7) • The rain falls on the just and the unjust • We do not know what will happen for the faithful family today, and the unfaithful family tomorrow • All we can do is find our dependence on God’s grace • To be obedient to Him because He loves us so much • Do not forget these valuable points • God is the one who is sovereign • We can trust Him and we can rejoice in what He does in the world • While we may not understand all the reasons in this moment, we can trust that God does have reasons • Those reasons are not for evil, but for good

21. Application Points • Learning from Stories (8) • We are all part of an interesting narrative called, “My Life” • If we read stories of the ancients, let us learn to better ourselves • Our narratives are not our own, no person is an island • What kind of story will they tell? • Will they tell the story of when you married for women? Or will they tell the story you were jealous over your sister? • Or will they tell the story of your faithfulness to God? • Will they tell the story of how you desired to walk with your God?

22. Application Points • Learning from Stories (9) • As you live a story is being written • Every breath you breathe, thought, action, is another chapter • Our responsibility is to have good stories with all the pain, sorrow, struggles, grace, mercy, and love • The best stories are those which point us back to our Creator, the Author of life and faith • Seek to be individuals who desire to glorify God • Be strong and courageous in a world which thinks little of you • Rejoice in all of His works, both big and small, knowing that His grace is sufficient for each of us, forever

23. Application Points • The Gospel of Christ • Origins • Fall • Redemption • Glorification