1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and she gave him Bilhah, her handmaid 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: to wife, and Jacob went in unto her Genesis thirty four. 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: Dear Heavenly Father, when I am close to my dreams, 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: I will stay mindful that I don't jump the gun 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: and settle for a counterfeit like Jacob. Instead, I will 6 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: stay diligent and focused so that the dream you have 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: for me will be the authentic dream and not a 8 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: second hand blessing. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that as I 9 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: step into this new season of blessing and abundance, I 10 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: will keep my heart from falling into the same trap 11 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 1: that Leah and Rachael fell into. I decree and declare 12 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: that greed, jealousy, and envy will not have a place 13 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: in my future. I will rejoice and be glad with 14 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,639 Speaker 1: the dreams You've allowed me to birth in my life. 15 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,319 Speaker 1: I will honor and appreciate what I have for I 16 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: know that as I live to honor You, God, you 17 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: will uphold my life and my future. In Jesus' name, Amen, 18 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 1: Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. 19 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to Today's Bible. 20 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: In a year brought to you by Bible Ineyear dot 21 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: com Jacob's family. 22 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: Before this story, we learned about Jacob's journey to labor. 23 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: Jacob was affirmed by the Lord that he would be 24 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: blessed as his father Isaac was and his father Jacob. 25 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 2: Upon arrival, Jacob met Rachel and immediately fell in love. 26 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,919 Speaker 2: In exchange for being able to marry Rachel, Jacob agreed 27 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: to work for Labon for seven years. Now we will 28 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: learn about Jacob marrying Laban's older daughter Leah first before 29 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: marrying Rachel, and the web of jealousy that bore an 30 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 2: entire nation inspired by the Book of Genesis. 31 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 32 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In our previous episode, we 33 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 3: learned that Jacob had fallen deeply in love with Rachel, 34 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 3: the younger daughter of his uncle Laban, and because of 35 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 3: his love for Rachel, he cuts the deal with Laban 36 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 3: to work seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage. Today, 37 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 3: we pick up as his seven years of hard labor 38 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 3: are coming to an end, but what seems to be 39 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 3: heading toward a very happy ending takes a sharp turn 40 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 3: into deceited dishonesty, rivalry, and resentment. Jacob, who is the 41 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 3: consummate cheater himself, is going to get a dose of 42 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 3: his own medicine and learn that what goes around comes around. 43 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 3: As the cheater is now cheated, his own father in law, 44 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 3: Laban is going to get the best of him, trapping 45 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 3: Jacob in a marriage to his older daughter Leah. Jacob 46 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 3: will choose to marry both sisters, but only after Laban 47 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 3: makes him agree to another seven years of hard labor. 48 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 3: And just as Jacob experienced the affection of his mother 49 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 3: yet the rejection of his father, we'll see how he'll 50 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 3: now love one wife and despise the other. Spite and 51 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 3: favoritism will poison the whole family and bring about a 52 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 3: decade long feud. In many ways, Jacob is not even 53 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 3: the central character of today's story, but a sad pawn 54 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 3: in a war between sisters. It's a messy story, and 55 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 3: yet in all of this you are going to see 56 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 3: God's compassion and grace towards Leah, Rachel, and Jacob. So 57 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 3: let's listen now to today's reading. 58 00:03:55,200 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 2: Jacob had toiled the ground of Laban for seven years, 59 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: counted the months until he could finally be united with 60 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 2: Rachel as husband and wife. Daily he saw her tending 61 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: the sheep and pined after her. Their love and desire 62 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: for one another burned deeply even before marriage, and as 63 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 2: the time approached, Jacob's countenance grew brighter. Finally it was time. Jacob, 64 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: with his head held high, approach to Laban. Seven years 65 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 2: has passed and I have worked faithfully for you, Jacob said, 66 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: Now give me my wife so that we can make 67 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: love and build a life together. Laban wasted no time 68 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 2: and gathered together all the people for a great feast. 69 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: Jacob's dream to be with Rachel was finally becoming a reality. 70 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 2: Yet Jacob's wedding would not end the way he thought 71 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 2: it would, nor would his marriage be the dream come 72 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 2: true he expected. Late into the night before the wedding 73 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: was going to commence, Laban took his oldest daughter, Leah 74 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: and dressed her in a wedding gown and veil to 75 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: cover her face. For back then, it was custom for 76 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: the bride to be covered. Lea was not adorned with 77 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 2: the same beauty as her sister. Rather, she carried herself 78 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: plainly and did not draw the same attention as Rachel. 79 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: In Jacob's excitement and revelry with wedding music and wine. 80 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 2: He took Leah as his wife. The two of them 81 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 2: were one, and Jacob went into Leah for the first time, 82 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 2: thinking it was Rachel. Jacob, the man who had tricked 83 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: his own brother and father into giving up their birthrights 84 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: and blessings, found himself in a wedding bed with the 85 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 2: wrong woman, tricked by his father in law. The next morning, 86 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: as the sun just began to rise above the peaks 87 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 2: in the horizon, Jacob awoke the night before he had 88 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 2: hardly remembered, but he did remember that he was finally 89 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:59,239 Speaker 2: married to Rachel after seven years of labor. He turned 90 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 2: to his wife and was bewildered to find Leah lying 91 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 2: next to him, inconsolable. Jacob bolted out of his tent 92 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 2: in a fit of rage, arms flailing and heart pounding. 93 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: Jacob pinned Laban to the wall of his tent. What 94 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 2: have you done to me, Jacob shouted, Did I not 95 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: serve you faithfully for Rachel? Why have you deceived me 96 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: like this? Laban, knowing he had gotten away with his plan, grinned. 97 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 2: It is not custom for the younger daughter to be 98 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: married before the oldest daughter. He said nonchalantly, you can 99 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: marry Rachel, of course, but only if you have served 100 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: me another seven years. Jacob was distraught. The trickster had 101 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 2: been outplayed at his own game. Jacob agreed to Laban's terms. 102 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,039 Speaker 2: He had no choice if he wanted to be with Rachel. 103 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: He married Rachel a week later, and then served Laban 104 00:06:55,600 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: for another seven years. Jacob and Leah had sex for children, 105 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 2: but Jacob and Rachel made love for passion. This would 106 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 2: send Leah into a spiral of insecurity and spite, a 107 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 2: spiral that would ultimately lead to a feud that lasted years. 108 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: God saw that Leah was despised by Jacob and Rachel 109 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: and had compassion on her. He opened her womb and 110 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: made her fruitful. Though Rachel was barren and left childless. 111 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: La conceived in Bora's son and called his name Reuben. 112 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 2: In her heart of hearts, she truly believed that if 113 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 2: she bore a son, Jacob would love her. So began 114 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,679 Speaker 2: Leah's desperate mission to fill a void in her life 115 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 2: left by her husband. She conceived again and bore a 116 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: son and named him Simon. She believed Simon was a 117 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:52,239 Speaker 2: gift from God. Because her husband hated her, Leah bore 118 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 2: another son, Levi. After three sons, she truly believed that 119 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 2: Jacob would love her. Yet Jacobob continued to love Rachel, 120 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 2: and Leiah fell deeper into depression. For a fourth time, 121 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: Leah conceived in Boora's son. His name was Judah, and 122 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: this time, instead of hoping that another son would make 123 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 2: Jacob love her, Leiah praised God, thanking him for his faithfulness. 124 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: After Judah was born, Leah ceased bearing children. Rachel knew 125 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 2: that she was barren and hated her sister for giving 126 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 2: Jacob's sons when she could not. Rachel's jealousy towards Leah 127 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 2: caused her to lash out at Jacob, give me children 128 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: or I shall die. Jacob's anger boiled up towards Rachel, 129 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 2: for he too was angry that they could not have 130 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 2: children together. Am I in the place of God, I 131 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: cannot open and close your womb. So Rachel devised a plan, 132 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 2: a plan that hearkened back to Sarah in the wilderness 133 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: of Canaan. Here is my servant Bilhah, Rachel said, go 134 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 2: into her and she will have a child on my behalf. 135 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 2: So she gave Jacob her servant, and Jacob gladly slept 136 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 2: with her, repeating the sins of his grandfather Abraham. Jacob 137 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 2: and bil Ha conceived and BoA's son named Dan. Rachel 138 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 2: was pleased, but wanted more, not because she truly wanted children, 139 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 2: but because she could not bear the thought of her 140 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 2: sister having more than her. Jacob and bil Hah continued, 141 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 2: and bil Ha had another son on Rachel's behalf. With 142 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 2: great struggle, I have triumphed over my sister, so she 143 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 2: named her second son, Naftalai. The cycle of jealousy did 144 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 2: not cease. 145 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 3: Leah. 146 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 2: To spite Rachel and gain the love of Jacob, gave 147 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,839 Speaker 2: her servant to be with Jacob so they might have 148 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: more children. Her servant, nil Pah, and Jacob slept together 149 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 2: and bore gad. Yet Leah was not satisfied. She gave 150 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 2: Zilpah to Jacob again, and the two you bore asher. Jacob, 151 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 2: caught in the middle of a civil war, made no protests. 152 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 2: He sat by and enjoyed the fruit of his wives insecurities. 153 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 2: He refused to care for their hearts or reassure them 154 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 2: of his love. No, Jacob had no such integrity, a 155 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,319 Speaker 2: quality he would soon be forced to possess. In the 156 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 2: days of the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found 157 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 2: some man drakes, a rare plant used for various medical 158 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 2: and recreational uses. They were rare and valuable. Reuben brought 159 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 2: them to his mother, Leah. Rachel wanted some of his 160 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 2: man drakes and asked Leah if she could have some. 161 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 2: Lea was in no mood to be generous with Rachel. 162 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 2: Isn't it enough that you have stolen my husband away 163 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 2: from me? Now you want my son's mandrakes. Leah protested. 164 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 2: In exchange for your man drakes, you can lie with 165 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 2: Jacob tonight. Will that satisfy you? Rachel said at this 166 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 2: Jacob was a tool for Leah and Rachel's war against 167 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 2: one another. No more love and no more dreams. Only 168 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 2: spite marked Jacob's household. When Jacob was returning from the field, 169 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 2: Leia came out to meet him. I have given my 170 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 2: son's mandrakes to Rachel so that you might lie with me. 171 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,599 Speaker 2: So Jacob slept with Leah that night, and Leah conceived 172 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:28,719 Speaker 2: a fifth son. They named him Isaka. The whirlwind of 173 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: Leah and Rachel did not cease. Leaah bore Jacob another 174 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 2: son and named him Zebulun. Now my husband must honor me, 175 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 2: Leah said. Leia was certain that six sons would prove 176 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: to be enough for Jacob's love. Yet again she came 177 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 2: back empty handed. Afterwards, Leah bore a daughter and named 178 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 2: her Dinah. God turned his eyes toward Rachel. He listened 179 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 2: to her honest cries for a son of her own. 180 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 2: Under the moon and blessings of God, Jacob and Rachel 181 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 2: made love, and from that love came Joseph, a miracle 182 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 2: from God. Even though Rachel had conceived this miracle from God, 183 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 2: she still got caught up in the trap all humans 184 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 2: get stuck in, wanting more. Jacob was fruitful, and his 185 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 2: sons were growing to be strong and ready to begin 186 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 2: lives of their own. He decided it would be best 187 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 2: to return to the land of his father Isaac. He 188 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 2: approached Laban and said, I have served you, I have 189 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 2: given you grandchildren, and I have cared for your land 190 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 2: and daughters. Allow me to leave and return home. Laban 191 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 2: enjoyed having Jacob by his side. Jacob carried with him 192 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 2: the blessings of God, and everything Jacob did he did 193 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 2: with excellence. I will pay whatever it takes to have 194 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 2: you stay here, for I am blessed because you are here, 195 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 2: he replied. Jacob grew tired of Laban and greatly desired 196 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 2: to leave his presence. I have given you everything you 197 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,119 Speaker 2: have given me to take care of I have increased. 198 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 2: Allow me please to depart with my own family. Laban agreed, 199 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 2: and the two set up arrangements for Jacob to leave 200 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: with a part of Laban's flocks. The agreement was that 201 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 2: Jacob would take the blemest sheep while Laban kept the 202 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 2: pure white sheep. Laban tried first to trick Jacob and 203 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,719 Speaker 2: hid the speckled sheep so they would not breed and 204 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: increase in number. However, Jacob, over dozens of years serving 205 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 2: under Laban, had honed the craft of breeding and sheep 206 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 2: herding animals. Jacob specifically bred the pure sheep to produce 207 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 2: more speckled and blemished sheep. Jacob was able to produce 208 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: stronger and healthier sheep for himself in great number. Laban 209 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 2: had tricked Jacob once, for Jacob was the ultimate trickster 210 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 2: and would not be outdone again. So Jacob increased in 211 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 2: wealth and influence with his wives, children, and new found freedom, 212 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 2: Jacob ventured back to Canaan. Yet Laban would not let 213 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 2: Jacob go unpunished. 214 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 3: Jacob works hard for seven more years. Rachel is anxious 215 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 3: to marry the man of her dreams. Jacob comes to 216 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 3: Laban and reminds him of the deal. It's time to 217 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 3: pay up. He does not want to wait another moment 218 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 3: to marry Rachel. At first, everything seems to be heading 219 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 3: in the right direction, a storybook ending for the young couple. 220 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 3: Laban quickly throws a great feast with lots of food 221 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 3: and lots of wine, of which Jacob freely partook, no doubt, 222 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 3: needless to say, he was fired up, perhaps in his 223 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,119 Speaker 3: haste and with the fuzzy head of one who celebrated 224 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 3: too much. Jacob fails to realize that his bride that 225 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 3: Laban brings to him is not Rachel, but his older 226 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 3: sister Leah. Still, he unites with her, marries her, and 227 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 3: seals his fate with her, a fact he realizes with 228 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 3: horror and anger. The following morning, he forcefully confronts Laban 229 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 3: and only then realized that he, the master of deception, 230 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 3: has been tricked. The trickster has been tricked. Leah is 231 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 3: now his wife, but he really loves Rachel, so Laban 232 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 3: agrees to let him marry her as well if Jacob 233 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 3: agrees to another seven years of hard work. Well, Jacob agrees. 234 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 3: Rachel and Leah become bitter rivals, but God sees Leah's 235 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 3: rejection and has compassion on her. He blesses her with 236 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 3: a fertile wound. She bears four sons with Jacob and 237 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 3: then stops conceiving, and with each child she holds out 238 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 3: hope that this new son will cause Jacob to love her, 239 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 3: but it never happens. Rachel, for her part, grows increasingly 240 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 3: bitter and demands Jacob give her a child lest she die. 241 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 3: Listen to Jacob's response, found in Genesis thirty verse two. 242 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 3: Jacob became angry with her and said, am I in 243 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 3: the place of God, who has kept you from having children. 244 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 3: This may seem at first to be an appropriate answer, 245 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 3: acknowledging God as the giver of life, but if you 246 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 3: look at it closely, Jacob is simply denying any responsibility, 247 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 3: even blaming God for Rachel's inability to conceive, rather than 248 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 3: pursuing God and asking for the blessing of a child 249 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 3: with Rachel. He simply says, it's not on me, this 250 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 3: is not my fault. Rachel offers her servant to Jacob, 251 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 3: and he accepts just his grandfather did, and produces two 252 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 3: sons outside of his marriage. Leah fallows suits and offers 253 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 3: her servant. Jacob again accepts. Like his father Isaac, he 254 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 3: seems nothing more than a pon and a bitter war 255 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 3: between siblings. The Lord then looks on Rachel with a 256 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 3: tender heart of compassion and grants her the son which 257 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 3: she so desperately desired. This son, Joseph. He will grow 258 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 3: into a man who will help save many nations one day, 259 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 3: but not before the ugly consequences of this rivalry between 260 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:08,439 Speaker 3: sisters and Jacob's lack of leadership rips this fractured family apart. 261 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 3: In life, there are many betrayals and setbacks, as in 262 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 3: the case of Jacob and his family, and the question becomes, 263 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 3: how will you handle setbacks in your life? How will 264 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,199 Speaker 3: you handle the mess ups that you have made? Do 265 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 3: you keep your eyes upon God and trust in Him 266 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 3: and repentance and faith as Jacob could have done, should 267 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 3: have done. It is at this point in our story 268 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 3: that Jacob seems to wake up and realize he needs 269 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,160 Speaker 3: to leave Laban's land and it is time to return 270 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 3: to Canaan, the land of Promise. Next time we'll learn 271 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 3: how Jacob escapes his entanglement with Laban. Dear God, there 272 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 3: are many times that things don't turn out like we 273 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:55,199 Speaker 3: had hoped or expected. Sometimes it's our own fault. We 274 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 3: can be cheated or cheat others, take an advantage of, 275 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:02,719 Speaker 3: or disappoint others, and be disappointed by others. Help us 276 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 3: to continue to trust You and act with integrity, not dishonesty. 277 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,680 Speaker 3: Thank you for this lesson in your Holy Word. Amen, 278 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,119 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 279 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 3: I'm Pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download Theprey dot 280 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 3: com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 281 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 3: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love. 282 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 3: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in 283 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 3: someone's life. And if you want more resources on how 284 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 3: to tap into God's power for successful Christian living, be 285 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 3: sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless. 286 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 287 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. 288 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 4: Welcome to the previous podcast, where hope is our only bias. 289 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 4: We'll unpack the most prominent stories happening in the news 290 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 4: and offer a Christian perspective. We won't shy away from 291 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 4: the hard topics, and we won't dilute the hopeful message 292 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 4: of Christ. This is more than a daily brief on 293 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:16,359 Speaker 4: the news. It's a way to be informed and transformed. 294 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 4: Listen to Pray News on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 295 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 4: or wherever you get your podcasts.