Genesis 29:31 - 30:43

29:31-30:24 | The births of Jacob’s first 11 sons were met with joy, but there was also a backdrop of sadness because of the rivalry between Leah and Rachel. Each of Leah’s four sons was given a name that represented her happiness as a mother and her continued pain at being the less-loved wife: Reuben (“Look, a Son”), Simeon (“Heard”), Levi (“Attached”), and Judah (“Praise”).

30:3-13 | Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, became a surrogate for Rachel as Hagar was for Sarah (16:1-4). Two sons were born in this manner for Rachel: Dan (“Judge”) and Naphtali (“My Wrestling”). Zilpah, Leah’s maid, also became a surrogate. She gave birth to two sons for her mistress: Gad (“A Troop”) and Asher (“Happy”).

30:14-17 | Mandrakes were considered an aphrodisiac and a stimulant for conception in some cultures (Song 7:13). Rachel schemed to get the mandrakes - but Leah got pregnant. So often people scheme and plan, only to see the opposite of what they want. This happens when people seek to do their own will instead of God’s.

30:18-21 | Leah gave birth to three more children: sons Issachar (“Wages”) and Zebulun (“Dwelling”), and a daughter, Dinah (“Judgement”). Leah recognized God as the one who endowed her with children. From Eve onward, Scripture always attributes the conception of a child to the grace of the Lord.

30:22-24 | Years of barrenness so deeply affected Rachel that she felt as if God remembered and listened to her when she finally conceived. When Scripture says God “remembers” someone, it means He will soon act on behalf of that person, An all-knowing God cannot forget anyone.

30:25-26 | Jacob’s agreement with Laban and his position as an adopted son meant he could not be sent away to live independently unless Laban allowed it. Moses’ circumstances with Reuel (also called Jethro) in Midian were similar (Ex. 2:18, 20-21; 4:18).

30:27-33 | Jacob’s clever plan for his wages - choosing the atypical animals - made them easy to distinguish and meant Laban could not cheat on the deal.

30:34-43 | Using colored rods might seem like magic, but they are symbols of Jacob’s use of selective breeding - all within the contect of trusting in God’s provision.