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THE STRESS OF BARRENNESS

Text: Genesis 30:1-24
11 September 2012

(I) THE STRESS OF BARRENNESS

1. Stress felt by Rachel

“Give me children, or else I die” Genesis 30:1b

a) Barrenness

b) Envy

2. Tension between Rachel and Jacob

Jacob’s anger aroused towards Rachel (Genesis 30:2a)

His retort

“Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of your womb?” Genesis 30:2b

(II) SURROGATE MOTHERHOOD

1. Rachel offers Bilhah her maid

a) As a wife (Genesis 30:4)

b) As a surrogate mother

“That I also may have children by her” Genesis 30:3c

2. Bilhah’s children

a) Dan (Genesis 30:6a) (Judge)

b) Naphthali (Genesis 30:8) (Wrestling)

3. Leah offers Zilpah her maid

a) As a wife (Genesis 30:9)

b) As a surrogate mother

“When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing” Genesis 30:9

4. Zilpah’s children

a) Gad (Genesis 30:11) (a troop or fortune)

b) Asher (Genesis 30:11) (happy)

5. Leah bears children again

a) Issachar (Genesis 30:18) (wages)

b) Zebulun (Genesis 30:20) (dwelling)

c) Dinah (Genesis 30: 21) (judgment)

6. Rachel finally bears a son

Joseph (Genesis 30:24)

(III) SUMMARY OF THE CHILDREN OF JACOB

From Leah

1. Reuben (Genesis 29:32) (See, a son)

2. Simeon (Genesis 29:33) (Heard)

3. Levi (Genesis 29:34) (Attachment)

4. Judah (Genesis 29:35) (Praise)

From Bilhah (Rachel’s Maid)

5. Dan (Genesis 30:6) (Judge)

6. Naphthali (Genesis 30:8) (Wrestling)

From Zilpah (Leah’s Maid)

7. Gad (Genesis 30:11) (troop/ fortune)

8. Asher (Genesis 30:13) (happy/ blessed)

From Leah

9. Issachar (Genesis 30:17) (wages)

10. Zebulun (Genesis 30:20) (Dwelling)

11. Dinah (Genesis 30:21) (Judgment)

From Rachel

12. Joseph (Genesis 30:24) (Add)