1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife, and 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: Jacob went in unto her Genesis thirty four. Dear Heavenly Father, 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: when I am close to my dreams, I will stay 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: mindful that I don't jump the gun and settle for 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: a counterfeit like Jacob. Instead, I will stay diligent and 6 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: focused so that the dream you have for me will 7 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: be the authentic dream and not a second hand blessing. 8 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: Thank you, Holy Spirit, that as I step into this 9 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: new season of blessing and abundance, I will keep my 10 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: heart from falling into the same trap that Leah and 11 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: Rachael fell into. I decree and declare that greed, jealousy, 12 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: and envy will not have a place in my future. 13 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: I will rejoice and be glad with the dreams You've 14 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: allowed me to birth in my life. I will honor 15 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: and appreciate what I have for I know that as 16 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: I live to honor You, God, you will uphold my 17 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: life and my future. In Jesus's name, Amen, Listening to 18 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:18,479 Speaker 1: these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing 19 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: from the Lord by listening to Today's Bible in a 20 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: year brought to you by Bible in a year dot com. 21 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: Jacob's family. Before this story, we learned about Jacob's journey 22 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 2: to Laban. Jacob was affirmed by the Lord that he 23 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 2: would be blessed as his father Isaac was and his 24 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: father Jacob. Upon arrival, Jacob met Rachel and immediately fell 25 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 2: in love. In exchange for being able to marry Rachel, 26 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 2: Jacob agreed to work for Laban for seven years. Now 27 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: we will learn about Jacob marrying Laban's older daughter Leah 28 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 2: first before marrying Rachel, and the web of jealousy that 29 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 2: bore an entire nation inspired by the Book of Genesis. 30 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 3: We're so glad you've joined us on the Bible and 31 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 3: of your podcast today. The Bible into your Podcast is 32 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 3: an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to 33 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 3: you each week through the support of listeners just like you. 34 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 3: Your support today is so important that we want to 35 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: thank you for your gift by giving you a copy 36 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 3: of my book called The Jesus Book. It is a 37 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 3: powerful guide that shows how every book of the Bible 38 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 3: points to Jesus and how his living word, the truth 39 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 3: of God's Word, will transform your life. So to get 40 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 3: a copy of the Jesus book. Simply go to Jack 41 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 3: Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham dot org 42 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 3: slash Jesus, and thank you for your support. In our 43 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 3: previous episode, we learned that Jacob had fallen deeply in 44 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 3: love with Rachel, the younger daughter of his uncle Laban, 45 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 3: and because of his love for Rachel, he cuts the 46 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 3: deal with Laban to work seven years in exchange for 47 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 3: Rachel's hand in marriage. Today, we pick up as his 48 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 3: seven years of hard labor are coming to an end, 49 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 3: but what seems to be heading toward a very happy 50 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 3: ending takes a sharp turn into deceit and dishonesty, rivalry, 51 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 3: and resentment. Jacob, who is the consummate cheater himself, is 52 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 3: going to get a dose of his own medicine and 53 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 3: learn that what goes around comes around. As the cheater 54 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 3: is now cheated, his own father in law, Laban, is 55 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 3: going to get the best of him, trapping Jacob in 56 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 3: a marriage to his older daughter Leah. Jacob will choose 57 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 3: to marry both sisters, but only after Laban makes him 58 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 3: agree to another seven years of hard labor. And just 59 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 3: as Jacob experienced the affection of his mother yet the 60 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 3: rejection of his father, will see how he'll now love 61 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 3: one wife and despise the other. Spite and favoritism will 62 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 3: poison the whole family and bring about a decade's long feud. 63 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 3: In many ways, Jacob is not even the central character 64 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 3: of today's story, but a sad pawn in a war 65 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 3: between sisters. It's a messy story, and yet in all 66 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 3: of this you are going to see God's compassion and 67 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 3: grace towards Leah, Rachel, and Jacob. So let's listen now 68 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 3: to today's reading. 69 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 2: Jacob had toiled the ground of Laban for seven years. 70 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: Jacob counted the months until he could finally be united 71 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: with Rachel as husband and wife. Daily he saw her 72 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 2: tending the sheep and pined after her. Their love and 73 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 2: desire for one another burned deeply even before marriage, and 74 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 2: as the time approached, Jacob's countenance grew brighter. Finally it 75 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 2: was time, Jacob, with his head held, I approached Laban. 76 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: Seven years has passed and I have worked faithfully for you, 77 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: Jacob said, Now give me my wife so that we 78 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 2: can make love and build a life together. Laban wasted 79 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 2: no time and gathered together all the people for a 80 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 2: great feast. Jacob's dream to be with Rachel was finally 81 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: becoming a reality. Yet Jacob's wedding would not end the 82 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 2: way he thought it would, nor would his marriage be 83 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: the dream come true he expected. Late into the night 84 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: before the wedding was going to commence, Laban took his 85 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 2: oldest daughter, Leah and dressed her in a wedding gown 86 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 2: and veil to cover her face. For back then it 87 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: was custom for the bride to be covered. Lea was 88 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 2: not adorned with the same beauty as her sister. Rather, 89 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: she carried herself plainly and did not draw the same 90 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: attention as Rachel. In Jacob's excitement and revelry with wedding 91 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 2: music and wine, he took Leah as his The two 92 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 2: of them were one, and Jacob went into Leiah for 93 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 2: the first time, thinking it was Rachel. Jacob, the man 94 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 2: who had tricked his own brother and father into giving 95 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 2: up their birthrights and blessings, found himself in a wedding 96 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 2: bed with the wrong woman, tricked by his father in law. 97 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 2: The next morning, as the sun just began to rise 98 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: above the peaks in the horizon, Jacob awoke. The night 99 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: before he had hardly remembered, but he did remember that 100 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 2: he was finally married to Rachel after seven years of labor. 101 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: He turned to his wife and was bewildered to find 102 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: Leah lying next to him, inconsolable. Jacob bolted out of 103 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 2: his tent in a fit of rage. Arms flailing and 104 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,840 Speaker 2: heart pounding, Jacob pinned Laban to the wall of his tent. 105 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 2: What have you done to me, Jacob shouted. Did I 106 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 2: not serve you faithfully for Rachel? Why have you deceived 107 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 2: me like this? Laban, owing he had gotten away with 108 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 2: his plan, grinned it is not custom for the younger 109 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 2: daughter to be married before the oldest daughter. He said, nonchalantly. 110 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 2: You can marry Rachel, of course, but only if you 111 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: have served me another seven years. Jacob was distraught. The 112 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 2: trickster had been outplayed at his own game. Jacob agreed 113 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: to Laban's terms. He had no choice if he wanted 114 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 2: to be with Rachel. He married Rachel a week later, 115 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 2: and then served Laban for another seven years. Jacob and 116 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: Leah had sex for children, but Jacob and Rachel made 117 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 2: love for passion. This would send Leah into a spiral 118 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: of insecurity and spite. A spiral that would ultimately lead 119 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: to a feud that lasted years. God saw that Leah 120 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 2: was despised by Jacob and Rachel and had compassion on her. 121 00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: He opened her womb and made her fruitful, though Rachel 122 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 2: was barren and left childless. Lah conceived in Bora's son 123 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 2: and called his name Reuben. In her heart of hearts, 124 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: she truly believed that if she bore a son, Jacob 125 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: would love her. So began Leaiah's desperate mission to fill 126 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: a void in her life left by her husband. She 127 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 2: conceived again and bore a son and named him Simon. 128 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 2: She believed Simon was a gift from God because her 129 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 2: husband hated her. Leaah bore another son, Levi. After three sons, 130 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: she truly believed that Jacob would love her, Yet Jacob 131 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 2: continued to love Rachel, and Leaiah fell deeper into depression. 132 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 2: For a fourth time, Laiah conceived in Bora's son. His 133 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: name was Judah, and this time, instead of hoping that 134 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: another son would make Jacob love her, Leiah praised God, 135 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 2: thanking him for his faithfulness. After Judah was born, Leaah 136 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 2: ceased bearing children. Rachel knew that she was barren and 137 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 2: hated her sister for giving Jacob's sons when she could not. 138 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 2: Rachel's jealousy towards Leah caused her to lash out at Jacob, 139 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 2: give me children or I shall die. Jacob's anger boiled 140 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 2: up towards Rachel, for he too was angry that they 141 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 2: could not have children together. Am I in the place 142 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 2: of God? I cannot open and close your womb? So 143 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 2: Rachel devised a plan, a plan that hearkened back to 144 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 2: Sarah in the wilderness of Canaan. Here is my servant, Bilhah. 145 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 2: Rachel said, go in to her and she will have 146 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 2: a child on my behalf. So she gave Jacob her servant, 147 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 2: and Jacob gladly slept with her, repeating the sins of 148 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: his grandfather Abraham. Jacob and bil Ha conceived and Boora's son, 149 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 2: named Dan. Rachel was pleased, but wanted more, not because 150 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 2: she truly wanted children, but because she could not bear 151 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 2: the thought of her s to having more than her. 152 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 2: Jacob and Bilhah continued, and bil Ha had another son 153 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: on Rachel's behalf. With great struggle, I have triumphed over 154 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 2: my sister. So she named her second son, Naftalai. The 155 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 2: cycle of jealousy did not cease. 156 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 3: Leah. 157 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 2: To spite Rachel and gain the love of Jacob, gave 158 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 2: her servant to be with Jacob so they might have 159 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 2: more children. Her servant, nil Pah and Jacob slept together 160 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 2: and bore gad. Yet Leah was not satisfied. She gave 161 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 2: Zilpah to Jacob again, and the two bore asher. Jacob, 162 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 2: caught in the middle of a civil war, made no protests. 163 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 2: He sat by and enjoyed the fruit of his wives insecurities. 164 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 2: He refused to care for their hearts or reassure them 165 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,839 Speaker 2: of his love. No, Jacob had no such integrity, a 166 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 2: quality he would soon be forced to possess In the 167 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 2: days of the Wheatheart. Reuben went out and found some 168 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: man drakes, a rare plant used for various medical and 169 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 2: recreational uses. They were rare and valuable. Ruben brought them 170 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 2: to his mother Leah. Rachel wanted some of his man 171 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 2: drakes and asked Leah if she could have some. Leah 172 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 2: was in no mood to be generous with Rachel. Isn't 173 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: it enough that you have stolen my husband away from me? 174 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 2: Now you want my son's mandrakes, Leah protested, in exchange 175 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: for your man drakes, you can lie with Jacob tonight. 176 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: Will that satisfy you? Rachel said. At this point, Jacob 177 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 2: was a tool for Leah and Rachel's war against one another. 178 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 2: No more love and no more dreams. Only spite marked 179 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 2: Jacob's household. When Jacob was returning from the field, Leia 180 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 2: came out to meet him. I have given my son's 181 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,719 Speaker 2: mandrakes to Rachel so that you might lie with me. 182 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 2: So Jacob slept with Leah that night, and Leah can 183 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 2: see a fifth son. They named him Isaka. The whirlwind 184 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 2: of Leah and Rachel did not cease. Leaiah bore Jacob 185 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 2: another son and named him Zebula. Now my husband must 186 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 2: honor me, Leah said. Leah was certain that six sons 187 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 2: would prove to be enough for Jacob's love, Yet again 188 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 2: she came back empty handed. Afterwards, Leah bore a daughter 189 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 2: and named her Dinah. God turned his eyes toward Rachel. 190 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 2: He listened to her honest cries for a son of 191 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 2: her own. Under the moon and blessings of God, Jacob 192 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 2: and Rachel made love, and from that love came Joseph, 193 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 2: a miracle from God. Even though Rachel had conceived this 194 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 2: miracle from God, she still got caught up in the 195 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 2: trap all humans get stuck in. Wanting more. Jacob was fruitful, 196 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 2: and his sons were growing to be strong and ready 197 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 2: to begin lives of their own. He decided it would 198 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: be best to return to the land of his father Isaac. 199 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 2: He approached Laban and said, I have served you. I 200 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: have given you grandchildren, and I have cared for your 201 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 2: land and daughters. Allow me to leave and return home. 202 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 2: Laban enjoyed having Jacob by his side. Jacob carried with 203 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 2: him the blessings of God, and everything Jacob did he 204 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 2: did with excellence. I will pay whatever it takes to 205 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 2: have you stay here, for I am blessed because you 206 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 2: are here, he replied. Jacob grew tired of Laban and 207 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 2: greatly desired to leave his presence. I have given you enough. 208 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 2: Everything you have given me to take care of I 209 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 2: have increased. Allow me please to depart with my own family. 210 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 2: Laban agreed, and the two set up arrangements for Jacob 211 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 2: to leave with a part of Laban's flocks. The agreement 212 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 2: was that Jacob would take the blemest sheep while Laban 213 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 2: kept the pure white sheep. Laban tried first to trick Jacob, 214 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 2: hid the speckled sheep so they would not breed and 215 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 2: increase in number. However, Jacob, over dozens of years serving 216 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 2: under Labon, had honed the craft of breeding and sheep 217 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 2: hurting animals. Jacob specifically bred the pure sheep to produce 218 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 2: more speckled and blemished sheep. Jacob was able to produce 219 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 2: stronger and healthier sheep for himself in great number. Laban 220 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 2: had tricked Jacob once, but Jacob was the ultimate trickster 221 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 2: and would not be outdone again. So Jacob increased in 222 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 2: wealth and influence. With his wives, children, and newfound freedom, 223 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 2: Jacob ventured back to Canaan. Yet Laban would not let 224 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 2: Jacob go unpunished. 225 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 3: Jacob works hard for seven more years. Rachel is anxious 226 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 3: to marry the man of her dreams. Jacob comes to 227 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 3: Laban and reminds him of the deal. It's time to 228 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 3: pay up. He does not want to wait another moment 229 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 3: to marry Rachel. At first, everything seems to be heading 230 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 3: in the right direction, a storybook ending for the young couple. 231 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 3: Laban quickly throws a great feast with lots of food 232 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 3: and lots of wine, of which Jacob freely partook, no doubt, 233 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 3: Needless to say, he was fired up, perhaps in his 234 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 3: haste and with the fuzzy head of one who celebrated 235 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 3: too much. Jacob fails to realize that his bride that 236 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 3: Laban brings to him is not Rachel, but his older 237 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 3: sister Leah. Still, he unites with her, marries her, and 238 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 3: seals his fate with her, a fact he realizes with 239 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 3: horror and anger. The following morning, he forcefully confronts Laban 240 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 3: and only then realized that he, the master of deception, 241 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 3: has been tricked. The trickster has been tricked. Leah is 242 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 3: now his wife, but he really loves Rachel, so Laban 243 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 3: agrees to let him marry her as well if Jacob 244 00:15:55,720 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 3: agrees to another seven years of hard work. Well, Jacob agrees. 245 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 3: Rachel and Leah become bitter rivals, but God sees Leah's 246 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 3: rejection and has compassion on her. He blesses her with 247 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 3: a fertile wound. She bears four sons with Jacob and 248 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 3: then stops conceiving, and with each child she holds out 249 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 3: hope that this new son will cause Jacob to love her, 250 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:27,239 Speaker 3: but it never happens. Rachel, for her part, grows increasingly 251 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 3: bitter and demands Jacob give her a child lest she die. 252 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 3: Listen to Jacob's response, found in Genesis thirty verse two. 253 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 3: Jacob became angry with her and said, am I in 254 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 3: the place of God, who has kept you from having children? 255 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 3: This may seem at first to be an appropriate answer, 256 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 3: acknowledging God as the giver of life, but if you 257 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 3: look at it closely, Jacob is simply denying any responsibility, 258 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 3: even blaming God for Rachel's inability to conceive. Rather than 259 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 3: pursuing God and asking for the blessing of a child 260 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 3: with Rachel, he simply says, is not on me. This 261 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 3: is not my fault. Rachel offers her servant to Jacob, 262 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 3: and he accepts, just as grandfather did and produces two 263 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 3: sons outside of his marriage. Leah fall of suits and 264 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 3: offers her servant. Jacob again accepts, like his father Isaac, 265 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 3: he seems nothing more than a pon and a bitter 266 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,439 Speaker 3: war between siblings. The Lord then looks on Rachel with 267 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 3: a tender heart of compassion and grants her the son 268 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 3: which she so desperately desired this son, Joseph. He will 269 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 3: grow into a man who will help save many nations 270 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 3: one day, but not before the ugly consequences of this 271 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 3: rivalry between sisters and Jacob's lack of leadership rips this 272 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 3: fractured family apart. In life, there are many betrayals and setbacks, 273 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 3: as in the case of Jacob and his family, and 274 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 3: the question becomes, how will you handle setbacks in your life? 275 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 3: How will you handle the mess ups that you have made? 276 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 3: Keep your eyes upon God and trust in Him and 277 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 3: repentance and faith as Jacob could have done, should have done. 278 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 3: It is at this point in our story that Jacob 279 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 3: seems to wake up and realize he needs to leave 280 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 3: Laban's land and it's time to return to Canaan, the 281 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 3: land of Promise. Next time we'll learn how Jacob escapes 282 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:24,959 Speaker 3: his entanglement with Laban. Dear God, there are many times 283 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 3: that things don't turn out like we had hoped or expected. 284 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 3: Sometimes it's our own fault. We can be cheated or 285 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 3: cheat others, take an advantage of, or disappoint others, and 286 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,959 Speaker 3: be disappointed by others. Help us to continue to trust 287 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 3: you and act with integrity. Not dishonesty. Thank you for 288 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 3: this lesson in your Holy Word. Amen, thank you for 289 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 3: listening to today's Bible into your podcast. And before we go, 290 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 3: I wanted to let you know that the Bible into 291 00:18:56,200 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 3: Your Podcast is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can 292 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 3: only come to you each week through the support of 293 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 3: listeners like you. Your support today is so important that 294 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 3: we want to thank you for your gift by giving 295 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 3: you a copy of my book called The Jesus Book. 296 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 3: This book is a powerful guide that shows how every 297 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 3: book in the Bible points to Christ and how you 298 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 3: can better read and understand the Bible and how God's 299 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 3: Word transforms our lives. So to get your copy of 300 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 3: The Jesus Book, simply go to Jaggraham dot org slash Jesus. 301 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 3: That's Jaggraham dot org slash Jesus and thank you for 302 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 3: your support.