Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. A very complex situation

a. Jacob loved Rachel

i) He worked hard for 7 years to obtain her hand in marriage

ii) He ends up with Leah as wife

b. He works another 7 years

i) He marries Rachel

ii) Natural desire to have children

iii) But Rachel is unable to bear children

2. The children of Leah

a. She bore 4 sons

b. They were:

i) Reuben Genesis 29:32

ii) Simeon Genesis 29:33

iii) Levi Genesis 29:34

iv) Judah Genesis 29:35

c. But did they actually cause Jacob to love her better?

THE TENSION BETWEEN JACOB AND RACHEL

1. Rachel’s feelings

a. She envied her sister, Leah

b. She was upset with Jacob

c. She exclaimed:

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

i) Frayed nerves

ii) Frustration vented

iii) Faith not very strong

2. Jacob’s angry response

And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said,
“Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” Genesis 30:2

a. Anger aroused

b. He retorts

i) He was not in the place of God

ii) All are in God’s hands

iii) What could he do if God withheld the fruit of the womb?

A HUMAN PLAN I

1. Rachel offers her maid, Bilhah

a. She would become a concubine

b. She could bear children for her (Rachel)

2. The Plan Rachel came up with

3 So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.”

4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.
Genesis 30:3-6

a. Bilhah was willingly given to Jacob

b. She conceived and bore a son

3. Rachel’s conclusion

a. God’s name was mentioned as “Judge”

b. He had heard her voice and given her a son

c. Dan was the baby’s name (Meaning “Judge”)

A HUMAN PLAN II

And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.
Genesis 30:7

1. Bilhah conceived again

2. She gave to Jacob a second son

3. Rachel’s comments

Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.
Genesis 30:8

a. This was like a wrestling contest between Rachel and Leah

b) She felt that she had prevailed

i) But Leah had 4 sons

ii) Bilhah had 2 sons

c) Name of the baby boy: Naphtali (Wrestling)

WHAT WAS HAPPENING?

1. What came out of Jacob’s spiritual experience with God? Genesis 28

2. What about Rebekah’s hope that Jacob would find a wife from her family?

CONCLUSION

1. What was missing?

a. A deeper knowledge of God

b. Further experiences with the LORD

c. A greater comprehension of Life was needed

i) What was life all about?

ii) What does it mean to have a family?

iii) What is the place of children?

2. Things that were not attempted by Jacob

a. Prayer

b. Growing of faith

3. Accumulation of problems

a. Errors were made

b. Problems would arise in time to come