Old Testament - Genesis 30 - March 2, 2022

3/2/2022 – Genesis 30

Jacob, and his two wives, and Leah’s 4 sons are settling down together, but there are still struggles among them. Leah feels that Jacob loves her less than Rachel. Rachel seems unable to bear children and she becomes envious of Leah, and seems to only be able to focus on the fact that she remains childless. 

Rachel decides to give her maid, Bilhah, to Jacob, knowing that any children Bilhah has will belong to Rachel. Rachel names Bilhah’s first Dan, and says “God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son…” (v 6) Rachel has been praying, and her prayers have been answered.” Bilhah had a second son for Jacob and Rachel. He is named Nephtali = “With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister”—and Rachel added “I have prevailed”. (v 8)  Having a competition between sisters is not the best way to form a cohesive family. Yet, the competition continued. “When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her Jacob to wife.” (v 9) The competition was on both sides! Leah had 6 sons and 1 daughter, and her maid had 2.  Rachel’s maid had two sons, and at the end Rachel gave birth to Joseph & Benjamin.

All of this happened while Jacob and his family lived with Laban. Jacob, now the father of 12 sons and 1 daughter goes to Laban asking him to “send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my county.” (v 26) Laban didn’t want to Jacob and his now large family to go, for Jacob has been a good worked for 20. Laban wanted them to stay as “I have learned by experienced that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.” (v 27)  Jacob in v 30 reminds Laban: “…For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude.”

Jacob finally made a deal with Laban. Jacob would take from the herd he had built for Laban, the less valuable cattle that were in the herd, and the less valuable sheep, and the less valuable goats “and of such shall be my hire” (32) for Jacob had labored for Laban without pay for these many years. Finally, Jacob and his wives and children then made preparations, leaving Laban, taking with them “much cattle, and maid servants and menservants, and camels and asses.”

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:24-52 - January 19, 2022

 1/19/2022 – Moses 6:24-52 The Old Testament tells us just a little about Enoch, but the Book of Moses greatly increases our understanding of his life, his ministry and his teachings. Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam. In those seven generations, many had left the teachings of the Lord. It was when Enoch “journeyed in the land among the people” (v 26) that “He heard a voice from heaven, saying, Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off.” (v 27). I read this and I feel the warning to us that we are not to rely only on our ‘earthly vision’. The Lords rewards are not always immediate. But if we keep the commandments, keeping our eyes focused on the ultimate reward that the Lord holds in store for us, THEN we will be able to “see afar off”.  In v...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 7:16-47 - January 29, 2022

  1/29/2022 - Moses 7:16-47 I didn’t realize I was repeating Moses 6 until I was finished with it the 2nd time. But what was beautiful to me is that studying the same scriptures a second time simply brought more thoughts and understanding and desires to be sure to return to my Father in Heaven….to finish my earthly life with the same goals that I started it. I LOVE studying the scriptures! There were now so many people on earth who had chosen not to follow the ways of the Lord. V 16: And from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness.”  V 18: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” V 19: “And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.”  Zion was est...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:40-56 - January 27, 2022

 1/27/2022 – Moses 6:40-59 [I’m still in Moses 6—haven’t figure out I’m reading this again) Enoch has seen and spoken with the Lord, and he follows the Lord’s instructions no matter what they entail.  President Monson once said: “It’s not enough to wish, it’s not enough to dream, it’s not enough to promise. We must do.”  And that’s just what Enoch did! He is going into areas where there is much evil. When the people there ask about him, he tells simply and honestly: “I came out of the land of Cainan, the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day. And my father taught me all the ways of God.” (v 41) Enoch answers their questions, he teaches them many things about God, but he keeps the profound spiritual things the Lord has revealed unto him to himself. The people he is teaching, are not ready to receive a higher law or standard. In v 46 Enoch tells them that his people keep a “book of remembrance” that they have written, according to the pattern given by th...
Read more