One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Friday, January 14th Leah Tricks Rachel, Jacob's Flocks Increase before He Leaves Uncle Laban, Jesus Sends Out His Disciples in His Authority
Much like there was conflict between Sarah and Hagar over bearing children for their husbands, so today we see the conflict between Leah and Rachel. Leah bore Issac three children in chapter 29. Rachel was heartbroken that she could not bear any children, so she gave Jacob her servant Bilhah, who bore Jacob two sons. Not to be outdone, Leah took her servant Zilpah, who gave Jacob two more sons. Quite a heated competition.
Reuben, Leah's oldest son, was out in the field at the harvest time and brought in some mandrakes. Rachel asked Leah if she could have some. What was it about mandrakes, which was a root, that made Rachel want to have them.
"The mandrake is a root, called the love apple in Hebrew. They were thought to increase fertility in women (and still are among some peoples). Because Leah had the mandrakes, she knew Jacob would have relations with her, believing there was a greater likelihood she would become pregnant." (Guzik)
Similar to her son Jacob, who demanded Esau to give him his birthright in return for some food when he came in from hunting and was famished, Leah bargained for the mandrakes with Rachel. In return for the mandrakes she asked to be able to sleep with Jacob. Sounds like a pretty good deal for her.
God listened to Leah and God gave her not one, but two sons. Then, she gave Jacob his first daughter, Dinah. Finally, God enabled Rachel to have a son, and she named him Joseph saying, "The Lord has taken away my disgrace."
"The idea of God’s sovereignty over the womb is a repeated theme in the Bible. The purposes of God in opening one and closing the other may be completely unknowable, but God has His purpose. · God granted twins to Rebekah (Genesis 25:21). · He opens the womb of Leah (Genesis 29:31).· He closed the womb of Hannah, for a time (1 Samuel 1:5)." (Guzik)
And we see today young married women still struggle with bearing children, and it can be a tremendously painful experience, though modern medicine has helped somewhat.
Jacob's Flocks Increase
The rest of the chapter is devoted to Jacob's leaving his Uncle Laban with his two wives, maid servants, children and all of his servants and flocks. As Jacob told Laban he was leaving, Laban realized how blessed he and his flock were as a result of God's hand being on Jacob. So they split up the animals, with Jacob taking the spotted goats and sheep, and the brown colored lambs. This seemed fair enough, but Jacob had used some tricks of the trade in the breeding process.
He put poplar branches in front of the watering trough, so he could monitor what animals came when they were thirsty and ready to mate. He figured out a way to have the stronger animals mate, so they came out spotted or streaked. So the weak ones went to Laban and the strong ones went to Jacob. Some think because Jacob had served Laban an extra 7 years, he deserved the better flocks. Others attribute all of this to the deceptive nature of Jacob. I would favor the latter. But God still kept his promise to bless Jacob as a descendant of Abraham. We will see the truth of this in the next chapter.
Jacob flees from Laban
The relationship between Jacob and Laban turns sour, as some of Laban's sons started to tell their dad that Jacob had taken the best flocks for himself. At this point God instructs Jacob to go back to his homeland, the land of his grandfather Abraham. He explains the situation to Leah and Rachel. He explains the process of how God had multiplied Jacob's flock and how. He reasons that God had blessed him, because he had seen how Laban had treated him. Leah and Rachel agree with his logic. Realizing their inheritance was used up and convinced God had indeed blessed their husband, they both agree to go back to Jacob's family and homeland.
"Their support of Jacob in a costly and perhaps dangerous move was significant. It was a huge undertaking to move such a large family so far. If not for the support of his wives, Jacob perhaps would not have done what the LORD had told him to do. This may be the first time in quite a while when the sisters Leah and Rachel agreed on anything. They could agree in uniting against a common enemy – their father Laban." (Guzik)
Chapter 10 represents a significant transition in Matthew's gospel. The disciples have learned from Jesus and watched him preach and heal. Now he sends them out in his authority. One thing you will notice about the list of disciples is the diversity. They came from different backgrounds and life experiences. From the fisherman to the tax collectors.
Jesus sent his apostles first the Jews, not the Samaritans or Gentiles.Matthew calls them God's lost sheep. The message he gave them to preach was the same one he gave, "the kingdom of God had come near."
What else would they be doing? What was their job description?
1. They were to operate in the same power as Jesus did. Healing lepers, casting out demons and even raising the dead. Really? Raise the dead? Yes, you will see it later.
2. What should they bring with them? Here was a real test of faith. They would take virtually nothing. No change of clothes, no money bags, a walking stick or even sandals. Now that is traveling lightly.
3. How would they be provided for? They would work and accept the hospitality provided for them. Note they were not to beg, but work.
4. What would be the test of who they should spend time with as they went out? Jesus says to look for those who were "worthy"? The people that God had set apart would welcome them and provide for them. God would place them in every city. We often call them "people of peace".
5. What would happen to those who did not welcome them? It would not be good. Jesus says it will be worse for them than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. We saw what happened to them and it was not pretty!
6. What else should they prepare for? They should prepare to be persecuted. They would be sheep among wolves, meaning there would be those who were looking to devour them. As such they need to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves". They needed to be smart as to how they managed their business, and who they would assocate with. They needed to remain pure and not lower themselves by retaliating to those who hurt them.
At the end of the day, they would appear before many different authorities, which would give them a chance to testify to the power of the gospel. They would be persecuted equally from the religious and governmental sectors, just as Jesus would be. When the moment of truth came, and they are called on to give their testimony, the Spirit (the first time the Spirit is mentioned in connection with empowering the disciples) would give them the words to say.
Finally, Jesus says the persecution will be so bad, families will be divided up. Instead of enjoying a privileged status as his followers, they would be hated and some would even be kiled.
In this psalm David is decrying the lying, flattering and deceptive lips of the people of his day. People will lie to their neighbors and everyone will be out for themselves. In spite of all this, David points to God's Word as the only source of truth.
"And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times."
This is why it is so good for us to be in God's Word together this year. Things haven't changed much in 3,000 years, and we need to rely on the word of God for direction and wisdom more than ever before!
What is the value of wisdom? What should it profit a man or woman? Wisdom brings joy and understanding, and is more valuable than rubies, silver, or gold. This is why we need to seek wisdom from the Lord and apply it in our lives!
What challenges in your life call for you to rely on the wisdom God gives us in his word? As Jesus' disciple where is he sending you? Do think there will be resistance if you are faithful to go where he calls you to go? Remember the Holy Spirit will give you the words, you don't have to rely only on yourself!
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