Genesis 30 - Day 30 (click here to read the chapter)
Scripture: Genesis 30:1-3 Commentary: 30:1–8 The second scene, like the first, begins with seeing, “When Rachel saw” (cf. 29:31). When the Lord saw Leah’s situation, he acted in mercy. But Rachel’s reaction to divine kindness is jealousy, and like Sarah (16:2), she adopts the desperate expedient of having children through her maid in an attempt to be even with her sister. 1–2 “To think that after the beautiful, gentle love story of 29:1–20 this angry exchange is our first and only experience of their marriage!” (Westermann, 2:474). The desperate desire of women for children is often expressed in the OT (cf. 1 Sam 1:6–8, 15–16; Prov 30:16), but nowhere so vehemently as here. “Give me children, or I shall die.” Sarah’s and Rebekah’s reactions in similar situations are mild by comparison (cf. 16:2; 25:21), even though they had waited many more years than Rachel. To blame her husband for her plight also smacks of impiety, for the OT regards children as the gift of God, not of man (e.g., Ps 113:9). Prayer, not protest, should have been Rachel’s reaction, as Jacob implies in his heated response, “Am I in God’s place, who has prevented your womb from bearing fruit?” Rachel demanded sons; Jacob describes children as “fruit of the womb,” thereby underlining their God-givenness (cf. Deut 7:13; 28:11; Ps 127:3). “Am I in God’s place?” said the king of Israel when faced with another impossible demand (2 Kgs 5:7). 3 But despite Jacob’s rebuke, Rachel is set on solving her problem by her own devices and not waiting for God to act. On the custom of surrogate marriages in the ancient Near East and Genesis’ view of them, see Comment on 16:1–6. Rachel, in fact, quotes Sarah’s words in asking Jacob to follow this custom, “that I may be built up from her” (16:2). Wenham, G. J. (1994). Genesis 16–50 (Vol. 2, p. 244). Dallas: Word, Incorporated. Application: As Wenham notes above, "Prayer, not protest should have been Rachel's reaction..." Just another reminder that God is in control and instead of taking matters into our own hands, we should place our trust in Him. Prayer: Lord, help me to know You more. Comments are closed.
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