Series Introduction:

Today's sermon continues our series on the Life of Jacob, a man whose name means "supplanter" or "he who grabs the heel." Jacob was the younger twin son of Isaac, born immediately after his brother Esau, and his story is full of themes of sibling rivalry, deception, and divine providence.

In previous weeks, we learned how Jacob's life took a significant turn when Esau, the elder twin, sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew. Later, with the help of his mother, Rebekah, Jacob deceived his blind father into giving him the blessing intended for the firstborn. This caused a deep rift between the brothers, with Esau vowing to kill Jacob. Fearing for his life, Jacob was sent by his parents to live with his uncle Laban in Haran. During his journey, he dreamed of a ladder reaching up to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. This dream marked a significant encounter with God, and Jacob vowed to serve the Lord.

Upon reaching Haran, Jacob met Rachel, Laban's daughter, at a well. He fell in love with her instantly and agreed to work for Laban for seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage. However, Laban deceives Jacob by giving him Leah, Rachel's older sister, on their wedding night. Jacob was then required to work another seven years to marry Rachel as well.

Jacob's life has been full of deception, discord within his family, and encounters with God, who loves Jacob in spite of all his flaws and failures. However, his journey with God was just beginning.

Scripture Reading: 

Genesis 29:31-30:24 (ESV)

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts, we ask for your guidance and illumination. Lord, we acknowledge the pain many of us have experienced in our families due to feuds, envy, and rivalry. May your Holy Spirit be our teacher today, opening our minds and hearts to understand and apply your Word to our lives. Help us to see your faithfulness and grace even in the midst of human frailty and sin. We pray all this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Introduction:

When a husband and his wife work together, they double one another's joy. When they are against one another, they double their misery. But what happens when you have more than one wife, and they are against each other? If we follow God's design for marriage, then we never have to know, but that is not how the life of Jacob played out. Jacob, who deceived his father, had, in turn, been tricked by his uncle, resulting in him being married to two sisters, Rachel and Leah. The result was an unhappy marriage with much tension and strife between the sisters and eventually between the children of Jacob. However, despite all the family's struggles and problems, we can take some vital lessons from this passage.

We learn that even amidst the turbulence and sins within a family, God can overrule and use those circumstances to fulfill His promises and bring good to the family. We witness how God's divine plan unfolds as He appointed Jacob's twelve sons to become the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. And we are reminded that being believers does not guarantee a tension-free home. The same sins that affected Jacob's household can also disturb our homes. Still, we can find hope in knowing that God can overrule the tension, bringing peace and blessing to our families if we turn to Him.

God Remembers Leah 

"When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren." - Genesis 29:31, ESV

Imagine how Leah must have felt, knowing her husband's love was directed towards her sister. Many of us can relate to the pain of being overlooked and undervalued. But God heard her cries for help and gave her something to hold onto: the gift of motherhood. 

Though Leah felt forgotten, God had not forgotten her. He opened her womb and began blessing her with children, ensuring she would be cherished in the family. Each name has a significant story: First, there's Reuben, which translates to "See, a son." This name represents God's answered prayer and the joy she had over being able to provide Jacob with a son. Then, there was Simeon, meaning "hearing." This name reflects how the Lord heard her prayers about Jacob's rejection and neglect. Next, we have Levi, which means "attached." This name reveals Leah's growing hope that her husband would become more attached to her with every son.

"Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." - Genesis 29:34

Unfortunately, even though she is grateful to God for her children, Leah is still building her identity on her husband's love for her instead of the Lord's love for her. 

However, when she has her fourth son, she has a breakthrough. She gives birth to Judah, which means "praise.”  She had learned to focus on God and praise Him instead of dwelling on her problems. This time Leah praised God for who He was and for the blessings He had given her.

"This time I will praise the LORD" - Genesis 29:35

How appropriate that the fourth child, Judah, is the one through whom the covenant promises will ultimately be fulfilled. From his lineage, Jesus, the Messiah and the Son of God will emerge and accomplish all of the promises made by God. If we skip from Genesis all the way to Revelation, we see that Jesus, the Lion of Judah, alone is worthy to open up the scrolls of heaven and bring about the fulfillment of all things.

 "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." - Revelation 5:5, ESV

Truly the birth of Judah was a reason to praise God! 

Just like Leah, we can find solace in the fact that God always has His eyes on us, even when we feel unseen. He loves us unconditionally, even during times when we feel unloved. Although it may be hard to grasp how, God's love and grace can transform the most difficult situations into blessings. Let us always give Him praise when He shows up in amazing and powerful ways. Let's acknowledge His greatness and thank Him for all the incredible things He's done in our lives. As the timeless hymn declares, "To God be the glory, great things he has done!"

Rachel's Jealousy

Sadly, God's blessing and provision for Leah caused jealousy and envy to rise up in her sister Rachel. From what we can discern from scripture, Rachel was a woman of remarkable beauty. Jacob loved her at first sight and labored fourteen years for her hand in marriage. Yet, as fate would have it, this beautiful woman could not conceive a child. Rachel couldn't stand to see her sister produce sons while she remained childless. Rachel declared, "Give me children, or else I will die" (Genesis 30:1). In tragic irony, Rachel would one day die while giving birth, but we still have a while before we get to that story. 

Though Jacob loved Rachel the most, her infertility and her sister's ability to have many children sowed the seeds of envy deep within her heart. Envy and jealousy might seem like harmless emotions that we all experience from time to time, but beware! If we let them take root in our hearts, they can wreak havoc on our lives. These sins have the power to damage our relationships, diminish our self-worth, and breed bitterness within us. The worst part? They can cloud our judgment, leading us to make harmful decisions that ultimately hinder our spiritual growth and well-being. 

"A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot." - Proverbs 14:30, ESV

This corrosive envy gradually eroded Rachel's inner peace, driving her to make sinful and wicked choices. Not unlike Sarah and Hagar, Rachel implored Jacob to take her handmaid, Bilhah, as a concubine in a desperate attempt to secure the children she so desired. And like Abraham before him, Jacob sinfully listened to his wife's sinful suggestion. This moral failure only intensified their family's strife, emphasizing Rachel's wavering trust in God's providence and timing. 

In no uncertain terms, the Scriptures counsel us against harboring envy and instead encourage us to walk in the fear of the Lord. Envy has no place in the life of a devoted follower of Christ. Authentic love does not give way to envy. 

Paul, in his first letter to the church in Corinth declared, " love does not envy” (1 Corinthians 13:4, ESV). This short statement encapsulates a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith – the call to embody love in our lives. Love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, emphasizes qualities such as patience and kindness. It urges us to be understanding and compassionate, slow to anger, and quick to forgive. However, when we look at the phrase "love does not envy," we are reminded that envy stands in stark contrast to the selfless, unconditional love that God encourages us to practice.

Envy is a mindset rooted in comparison and discontentment. It is a betrayal of the love we are called to show to our neighbors. When we envy, we fail to celebrate others' successes and blessings genuinely. Instead, we become preoccupied with our own desires and resentful of those who seem to have more. Envy breeds negativity, division, and a lack of gratitude. It not only erodes our own inner peace but also damages the harmony of our relationships with others.

To truly live out the love Christians are called to demonstrate in the world, we must actively combat envy in our hearts. This means shifting our focus from what we lack to what we have, appreciating the unique journey and blessings that God has bestowed upon us. It means rejoicing in the happiness and success of others rather than begrudging them. By choosing love over envy, we align ourselves more closely with the divine example of love set forth in scripture and strengthen our relationships with both God and our fellow man.

Leah's Backsliding 

It wouldn't be fair to solely blame Rachel for the sin of envy. According to scripture, Leah stopped having children after Judah but still desired to have more. If her desire for children had been for the right reasons, it wouldn't have been sinful. However, in Genesis 30:9-13, we see that Leah wanted more children because she valued having more than her sister.

Sadly, we see how Leah, who had previously experienced God's grace and deliverance, fell into spiritual decline and worldly compromise. The introduction of worldly practices of the day into their homes, like using maidservants and concubines to have children, caused tension and led to devastating consequences. Leah failed to trust God's will for her life and followed Rachel's example by giving her servant Zilpha to Jacob as a wife, hoping to have more children than her sister in their sibling rivalry. At the time, using maidservants as concubines was a common practice, but Jacob and his wives knew it went against God's design for marriage. However, Leah persuaded Jacob to compromise his convictions, and he, too, gave in to worldly practices, disregarding God's perfect plan.

In our modern culture, we may be shocked by such practices, but we must recognize that worldly compromise continues to exist in various forms. Infidelity, immorality, and the pursuit of self-gratification still plague society and our families. We cannot turn a blind eye to the tragic acts of sin and temptation surrounding us. We may face situations where cultural norms pressure us to compromise our convictions, but we must remain steadfast in following God's Word.

Though Leah failed to acknowledge God's role, He remained faithful to His promises. Gad's name, meaning "good luck or fortune," highlights Leah's focus on worldly outcomes rather than attributing the blessings to God. Likewise, Asher's name, meaning "happy," perhaps demonstrates Leah's misplaced happiness, no longer finding joy in the Lord but rather in having more children to hold over her sister.

Leah's actions teach us a vital lesson - we must never compromise our trust and dependence upon God, no matter the circumstances or pressures we face. In a world that often tempts us to conform to its ungodly ways, we are called to stand firm in our faith and convictions.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  - Romans 12:2

A War Between Sisters 

It is a bit of divine irony that Jacob, who fled his family because of favoritism and sibling rivalry between himself and his brother, has now found himself in the middle of a sibling rivalry between two sisters. 

In Genesis 30:14-21, we witness the climax of this pettiness. We see both Rachel and Leah feeling unwanted, unloved, and neglected, leading to severe hurt and strife. Both Rachel and Leah were desperate for children, and when Reuben found mandrake plants that were believed to have fertility benefits, the rivalry intensified. Rachel, who had not borne a child, humbled herself before Leah, seeking the plant. In exchange, Leah requested Jacob's presence for a night. In their actions, we see how envy and competition can lead us to make unwise decisions and manipulate situations to fulfill our desires. This story reminds us that being believers, even mature believers, does not shield us from deep emotional pain within our own families. It is not uncommon for family members to feel pushed away, withdrawn from, or ignored, even in Christian households. However, despite the jealousy and scheming, God's grace prevailed. 

In our own lives, we may encounter situations where envy and competition arise, causing tensions within families, workplaces, or communities. We must be cautious not to compromise our trust in God, seeking to satisfy our desires at the expense of others. God's grace is sufficient to bring healing, restoration, and blessings to our relationships. As we surrender our jealousies and rivalries to Him, God can transform our hearts, leading us to embrace unity, love, and forgiveness. 

God Remembers Rachel

Finally, Genesis 30:22-24 shows a remarkable transformation in Rachel's life. 

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

There is much to unpack in just these three verses. In the depths of her childlessness, Rachel bore a heavy burden of shame, a weight that pressed upon her heart. But it was precisely in that moment, when the world may have bypassed her, that "God remembered Rachel." This is not to say that God had forgotten Rachel. The Lord does not forget. An all-knowing God can't be absentminded. Rather, this is a poetic way for the author of Genesis to say that God was about to do something miraculous. This divine remembrance resonates with the biblical tale of Noah, where God's recollection ushered in the receding of floodwaters, and in the Exodus from Egypt, when God remembered his people in slavery. In the same way, God's boundless grace now sweeps into Rachel's life.

The ordering of "God remembered Rachel" before "He opened her womb" within the biblical narrative is not merely happenstance but a deliberate arrangement. In this sequence, we witness a profound theological truth: that God's mercy and favor always precede the outpouring of blessings. It is as if the very act of divine recollection ushered in the transformation Rachel had yearned for. It signifies the unfathomable power of God's grace, turning barrenness into fruitfulness, despair into hope, and shame into honor.

Rachel's choice of name for her son, Joseph, also carries with it a prayer for the future: "May the Lord add another son to me." This name, more than a label, represents her incredible journey from a woman overshadowed by shame to a hopeful mother who wholeheartedly trusts in God's promise. 

Earlier, Rachel had known God only as Elohim, recognizing Him as the God of creation and life. However, her spiritual growth led her to a deeper understanding of God as the LORD, Yahweh, the God of salvation and redemption. She humbled herself before the LORD, acknowledging that He had taken away her reproach and met her need.

God always keeps His promises, even if it seems like it's taking a long time. God had promised Abraham and later Isaac that their descendants would be as numerous as the stars or the grains of sand. God fulfilled this promise by giving Jacob many sons and blessing him in every way. While we may not have promises of material wealth, we have the amazing and certain promises of the new covenant in Christ Jesus, which apply to our lives now and in eternity. These promises guarantee all we need for a blessed life, including eternal life itself.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, We thank you for the insights and lessons we have gleaned from your Word today. We are grateful for the stories of Rachel, Leah, and Jacob, which remind us of your faithfulness and grace even in the midst of human weakness and sin. Help us to remember that you are always with us, ready to redeem and transform even the most challenging situations. Lord, we pray for healing in families where there is strife and discord. May your love and grace prevail, bringing unity and reconciliation. Give us the strength to be peacemakers and agents of your love in our own homes and communities. May we continue to grow in our faith and trust in you, seeking a deeper understanding of your character as Yahweh, our Savior and Redeemer. We commit ourselves to you, Lord, and ask for your guidance and protection as we go about our daily lives. May our actions and words reflect your love and grace to those around us. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.