BACKGROUND
Jacob was promised a "seed" in the last chapter. Now, he looked for a bride to fulfill that part of the promise. He got way more than he bargained for.
Jacob arrived at a well near Haran in Paddan-Aram. See a map of the location HERE. A well signifies blessing throughout Scripture (16:13-14; 21:19; 26:19-25, 33). He was blessed by immediately falling in love with Rachel and loved her enough to work seven years for her. At the end of that time, Jacob, the deceiver, was himself deceived by his Uncle Laban into marrying Rachel's older sister, Leah. Now, Jacob was getting a taste of his own medicine.
Is this a case of reaping what he had sown (Galatians 6:7)? Leah, the firstborn, was presented deceptively as the younger as a turnaround of Jacob having presented himself as the firstborn to his father, Isaac!
Laban gave Rachel to him if he would work for seven more years. Rachel was worth it, and he loved her best. Leah was unloved but able to have Jacob's children while Rachel remained barren.
Then it all got really dysfunctional when the maids, Zilpah and Bilhah, were given to Jacob. The family got bigger, but Leah still felt unloved and Rachel still felt jealous and competitive with her sister. Then Leah found mandrakes that helped her conceive again until, finally, Rachel had Joseph. WHEW! The score was:
Leah - 6
Zilpah - 2
Bilhah - 2
Rachel - 1 (and another to come soon)
Leah won numerically, but she still felt lonely and unloved!
Here is a chart from The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Old Testament
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| These children will form the twelve tribes of Israel we will hear so much about in the future. Dinah, the only daughter of Leah and Jacob, will also figure prominently in a future story. Stay tuned. |
REFLECTION
This is a story of women trying to take matters into their own hands. How often have we done that because we wanted to somehow manipulate the situation in our favor so that we might feel better about ourselves?
APPLICATION
Where have you tried to take matters into your own hands lately? Do you do rash things to gain love from others?
Talk to God and ask Him, "What do you want me to know about why I do that?" Then, dwell in His presence and listen to what He says. Perhaps you believe a lie about yourself. Then let Him speak the truth to you. Be sure to RECEIVE that truth once He speaks it to you too! It might take some time to really "sit and soak" with Him, but I guarantee that He will show up! Don't take matters into your own hands. It is not a good plan. :)
Praying God's Word by Beth Moore has an excellent chapter entitled "Overcoming the Insecurity of Feeling Unloved" that you might find helpful. I encourage not just reading it but asking God to speak to you as you read it.
This is a story of women trying to take matters into their own hands. How often have we done that because we wanted to somehow manipulate the situation in our favor so that we might feel better about ourselves?
APPLICATION
Where have you tried to take matters into your own hands lately? Do you do rash things to gain love from others?
Talk to God and ask Him, "What do you want me to know about why I do that?" Then, dwell in His presence and listen to what He says. Perhaps you believe a lie about yourself. Then let Him speak the truth to you. Be sure to RECEIVE that truth once He speaks it to you too! It might take some time to really "sit and soak" with Him, but I guarantee that He will show up! Don't take matters into your own hands. It is not a good plan. :)
Praying God's Word by Beth Moore has an excellent chapter entitled "Overcoming the Insecurity of Feeling Unloved" that you might find helpful. I encourage not just reading it but asking God to speak to you as you read it.
2023 Update: Since this time, I have found great help in "catching myself in the act! My core fear is feeling unwanted and unloved. When I have a negative reaction to something, I ask God, in the midst of it, "Is this related to this core fear?" Then we dialogue about it, and I ask him to tell me the truth. This way, I don't do rash things to gain love from others! This may not be your core fear. We all have them, and we all have developed coping mechanisms to escape those fears. Spend some time identifying your core fears and "catch yourself in the act" by talking to God in the midst of it!
PRAYER
Lord, we release all the ways we try to manipulate things to help us feel better about ourselves. Bind the enemy as he tries to convince us that we are unloved. Thank You for loving us. Help us to receive that love right now. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
PRAYER
Lord, we release all the ways we try to manipulate things to help us feel better about ourselves. Bind the enemy as he tries to convince us that we are unloved. Thank You for loving us. Help us to receive that love right now. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
1 comment:
What a difference 15 years can make. I would say that the Beth Moor book recommendation above wasn't exactly a bad thing, but now that I have read her autobiography, she might have a different way of dealing with things now than just slapping a Bible verse on her coping mechanism.
I updated it in the post. The truth of Scripture is SO GOOD, but sometimes, we don't allow ourselves to feel the feelings and find out what is underneath those feelings. We don't always ENCOUNTER God and just gain INSIGHT about Him. There is a subtle difference. I find the Prayer of Examen helps me to feel feelings of consolation and desolation in my day, and I go from there. I also love Immanuel Journaling for this too. I don't REACT to things like I did 15 years ago. It is so great. So peaceful. I still LOVE all those verses in Beth's book, but we need to be aware of why we are searching out those verses in the first place, letting God heal us from the inside out.
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