Biblical History Part 6
Jacob's Family
Copied from the Sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore
December 18, 2016
Scripture Reading: Genesis 30:1-2
If you believe that the modern soap operas that are visible on television daily are bad; if you believe that the representatives of the people in the executive, legislative and judicial branches are bad; if you believe that the modern morals of the nation are bad; if you believe that the past three sentences are true, what will you believe about Jacob’s family?
The first two verses in our scriptural reading give us a short glimpse at an ongoing argument between Rachel and Jacob. Rachel was blaming her husband for the fact that she was not bearing him any children. Jacob replied that it wasn’t his fault. He hadn’t closed her womb. What is going on here?
Why is this chapter in the Bible anyway? In fact, why are the details of this very dysfunctional family in the Bible? Jacob had how many wives? Two. And who cares if one wife (Rachel) was jealous of the other wife (Leah)? And the wives were also sisters. And who cares if the other wife (Leah) felt that she was not loved by her husband (Jacob) as much as he loved her sister (Rachel)? And what is the big deal about all the children? What wife bore what child to Jacob?