1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: And she gave him Bilha her handmaid to wife, and 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: Jacob went in unto her Genesis thirty four. Dear Heavenly Father, 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,399 Speaker 1: when I am close to my dreams, I will stay 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: mindful that I don't jump the gun and settle for 5 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: a counterfeit like Jacob. Instead, I will stay diligent and 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: focussed so that the dream you have for me will 7 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: be the authentic dream and not a second hand blessing. 8 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: Thank you, Holy Spirit, that as I step into this 9 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: new season of blessing and abundance, I will keep my 10 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: heart from falling into the same trap that Leah and 11 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: Rachel fell into. I decree and declare that greed, jealousy, 12 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: and envy will not have a place in my future. 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: I will rejoice and be glad with the dreams You've 14 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: allowed me to birth in my life. I will honor 15 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: and appreciate what I have for I know that as 16 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: I live to honor You, God, you will uphold my 17 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: life and my future. Then, Jesus name Amen, listening to 18 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing 19 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: from the Lord by listening to to Day's Bible. In 20 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: a year brought to you by Bible in a Year 21 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: dot com Jacob's family. Before this story, we learned about 22 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: Jacob's journey to Laban. Jacob was affirmed by the Lord 23 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: that he would be blessed as his father Isaac was 24 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: and his father Jacob. Upon arrival, Jacob met Rachel and 25 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: immediately fell in love. In exchange for being able to 26 00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: marry Rachael, Jacob agreed to work for Leban for seven years. 27 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: Now we will learn about Jacob marrying Laban's older daughter 28 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: Leah first before marrying Rachel, and the web of jealousy 29 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: that bore an entire nation inspired by the Book of Genesis. Hello, 30 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 31 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: in a Year podcast. In our previous episode, we learned 32 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: that Jacob had fallen deeply in love with Rachel, the 33 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: younger daughter of his uncle Laban, and because of his 34 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: love for Rachel, he cuts the deal with Laban to 35 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: work seven years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage. Today, 36 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: we pick up as his seven years of hard labor 37 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: coming to an end, but what seems to be heading 38 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: toward a very happy ending takes a sharp turn into 39 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: deceit and dishonesty, rivalry, and resentment. Jacob, who is the 40 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: consummate cheater himself, is going to get a dose of 41 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: his own medicine and learn that what goes around comes around. 42 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: As the cheater is now cheated, his own father in law, 43 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: Laban is going to get the best of him, trapping 44 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: Jacob in a marriage to his older daughter Leah. Jacob 45 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: will choose to marry both sisters, but only after Laban 46 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: makes him agree to another seven years of hard labor. 47 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: And just as Jacob experienced the affection of his mother 48 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: yet the rejection of his father, we'll see how he'll 49 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: now love one wife and despise the other. Spite and 50 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: favoritism will poison the whole family and bring about a 51 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: decades long feud. In many ways, Jacob is not even 52 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: the central character of today's story, but a sad pawn 53 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: in a war between sisters. Is a messy story, and 54 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: yet in all of this you are going to see 55 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: God's compassion and grace towards Leah, Rachel, and Jacob. So 56 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: let's listen now to today's reading. Jacob had toiled the 57 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: ground of Laban for seven years. Jacob counted the months 58 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: until he could finally be united with Rachel as husband 59 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: and wife. Daily he saw her tending the sheep and 60 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: pined after her. Their love and desire for one another 61 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: burned deeply even before marriage, and as the time approached, 62 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: Jacob's countenance grew brighter. Finally it was time. Jacob, with 63 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: his head held high, approach to Laban. Seven years has 64 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: passed and I have worked faithfully for you, Jacob said, 65 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: Now give me my wife so that we can make 66 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: love and build a life together. Laban wasted no time 67 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: and gathered together all the people for a great feast. 68 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: Jacob's dream to be with Rachel was finally becoming a reality. 69 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: Yet Jacob's wedding would not end the way he thought 70 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,679 Speaker 1: it would, nor would his marriage be the dream come 71 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: true he expected. Late into the night before the wedding 72 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: was going to commence, Laban took his oldest daughter, Leiah 73 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: and dressed her in a wedding gown and veil to 74 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: cover her face. For back then, it was custom for 75 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: the bride to be covered. Leah was not adorned with 76 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: the same beauty as her sister. Rather, she carried herself 77 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 1: plainly and did not draw the same attention as Rachel 78 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 1: in Jacob's excitement and revelry with wedding music and wine, 79 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: he took Leiah as his wife. The two of them 80 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,679 Speaker 1: were one, and Jacob went into Leia for the first time, 81 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: thinking it was Rachel. Jacob, the man who had tricked 82 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 1: his own brother and father into giving up their birthrights 83 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: and blessings, found himself in a wedding bed with the 84 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: wrong woman, tricked by his father in law. The next morning, 85 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: as the sun just began to rise above the peaks 86 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: in the horizon, Jacob awoke. The night before he had 87 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: hardly remembered, but he did remember that he was finally 88 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: married to Rachel after seven years of labor. He turned 89 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: to his wife and was bewildered to find Leyah laying 90 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 1: next to him, inconsolable. Jacob bolted out of his tent 91 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: in a fit of rage, arms flailing and heart pounding. 92 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 1: Jacob pinned Laban to the wall of his tent. What 93 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 1: have you done to me, Jacob shouted, Did I not 94 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: serve you faithfully for Rachel? Why have you deceived me 95 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: like this? Laban, knowing he had gotten away with his plan, 96 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: grinned it is not custom for the younger daughter to 97 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: be married before the oldest daughter. He said nonchalantly, you 98 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: can marry Rachel, of course, but only if you have 99 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: served me another seven years. Jacob was distraught. The trickster 100 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: had been outplayed at his own game. Jacob agreed to 101 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: Laban's terms. He had no choice if he wanted to 102 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: be with Rachel. He married Rachel a week later, and 103 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: then served Liban for another seven years. Jacob and Leah 104 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: had sex for children, but Jacob and Rachel made love 105 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,040 Speaker 1: for passion. This would send Leah into a spiral of 106 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 1: insecurity and spite, a spiral that would ultimately lead to 107 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: a feud that lasted years. God saw that Leah was 108 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: despised by Jacob and Rachel and had compassion on her. 109 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: He opened her womb and made her fruitful. Though Rachel 110 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: was barren and left childless. Lah conceived in Borea's son 111 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: and called his name Reuben. In her heart of hearts, 112 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: she truly believed that if she bore a son, Jacob 113 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: would love her. So began Laya's desperate mission to fill 114 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: a void in her life left by her husband. She 115 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: conceived again and bore a son and named him Simon. 116 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: She believed Simon was a gift from God. Because her 117 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: husband hated her, Leah bore another son, Levia. After three sons, 118 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: she truly believed that Jacob would love her. Yet Jacob 119 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: continued to love Rachel, and Leah fell deeper into depression. 120 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: For a fourth time, Laiah conceived in bore a son. 121 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: His name was Judah, and this time, instead of hoping 122 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: that another son would make Jacob love her, Layah praised God, 123 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: thanking him for his faithfulness. After Judah was born, Layah 124 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: ceased bearing children. Rachel knew that she was barren and 125 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: hated her sister for giving Jacob sons when she could not. 126 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: Rachel's jealousy towards Leiah caused her to lash out at Jacob, 127 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: give me children or I shall die. Jacob's anger boiled 128 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: up towards Rachel, for he too was angry that they 129 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: could not have children together. Am I in the place 130 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: of God, I cannot open and close your womb? Sir 131 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: Rachel devised a plan, a plan that hearkened back to 132 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: Sarah in the wilderness of Canaan. Here is my servant Bilhah, 133 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: Rachel said, go in to her and she will have 134 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: a child on my behalf. So she gave Jacob her servant, 135 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: and Jacob gladly slept with her, repeating the sins of 136 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: his grandfather Abraham. Jacob and bill Haa conceived and bore 137 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: a son named Dan. Rachel was pleased, but wanted more, 138 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: not because she truly wanted children, but because she could 139 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: not bear the thought of her sister having more than her. 140 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: Jacob and Bilha continued, and bill Ha had another son 141 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:31,199 Speaker 1: on Rachel's behalf. With great struggle, I have triumphed over 142 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: my sister, so she named her second son, Naff To lie. 143 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 1: The cycle of jealousy did not cease. Leiah, to spite 144 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: Rachel and gain the love of Jacob, gave her servant 145 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: to be with Jacob so they might have more children. 146 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: Her servant, Nilpah, and Jacob slept together and bore gad. 147 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: Yet Leiah was not satisfied. She gave Zilpha to Jacob again, 148 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: and the two bore asher. Jacob, caught in the middle 149 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: of a civil war, made no protests. He sat by 150 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: and enjoyed the fruit of his wives insecurities. He refused 151 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: to care for their hearts or reassure them of his love. No, 152 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: Jacob had no such integrity, a quality he would soon 153 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: be forced to possess. In the days of the wheat harvest, 154 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: Reuben went out and found some mandrakes, a rare plant 155 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: used for various medical and recreational uses. They were rare 156 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: and valuable. Ruben brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel 157 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: wanted some of his mandrakes and asked Leah if she 158 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: could have some. Leiah was in no mood to be 159 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: generous with Rachel. Isn't it enough that you have stolen 160 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,199 Speaker 1: my husband away from me? Now you want my son's mandrakes, 161 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: Leah protested. In exchange for your mandrakes, you can lie 162 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: with Jacob tonight. Will that satisfy you? Rachel said. At 163 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 1: this point, Jacob was a tool for Leah and Rachel's 164 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: war against one another. No more love and no more dreams. 165 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: Only spite marked Jacob's household. When Jacob was returning from 166 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,079 Speaker 1: the field, Leiah came out to meet him. I have 167 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: given my son's mandrakes to Rachel so that you might 168 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: lie with me. So Jacob slept with Leiah that night, 169 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: and Leiah conceived a fifth son. They named him Ishaka. 170 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: The whirlwind of Leiah and Rachel did not cease. Leiah 171 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: bore Jacob another son and named him Zebulah. Now my 172 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: husband must honor me, Leiah said. Leiah was certain that 173 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: six sons would prove to be enough for Jacob's love, 174 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: Yet again she came back empty handed. Afterwards, Leah bore 175 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: a daughter and named her Dinah. God turned his eyes 176 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 1: towards Rachel. He listened to her honest cries for a 177 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: son of her own. Under the moon and blessings of God. 178 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: Jacob and Rachel made love, and from that love came Joseph, 179 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: a miracle from God. Even though Rachel had conceived this 180 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: miracle from God, she still got caught up in the 181 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: trap all humans get stuck in, wanting more. Jacob was fruitful, 182 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: and his sons were growing to be strong and ready 183 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: to begin lives of their own. He decided it would 184 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: be best to return to the land of his father Isaac. 185 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: He approached Laban and said, I have served you, I 186 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: have given you grandchildren, and I have cared for your 187 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: land and daughters. Allow me to leave and return home. 188 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: Laban enjoyed having Jacob by his side. Jacob carried with 189 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: him the blessings of God and everything Jacob did he 190 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: did with excellence. I will pay whatever it takes to 191 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: have you stay here, for I am blessed because you 192 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: are here, he replied. Jacob grew tired of Laban and 193 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: greatly desired to leave his presence. I have given you enough. 194 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: Everything you have given me to take care of I 195 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: have increased. Allow me pleased to depart with my own family. 196 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: Leban agreed, and the two set up arrangements for Jacob 197 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: to leave with a part of Leban's flocks. The agreement 198 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 1: was that Jacob would take the blemished sheep while Liban 199 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: kept the pure white sheep. Leban tried first to trick 200 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: Jacob and hid the speckled sheep so they would not 201 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: breed an increase in number. However, Jacob, over dozens of 202 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,199 Speaker 1: years serving under Leban, had honed the craft of breeding 203 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: and sheep hurting animals. Jacob specifically bred the pure sheep 204 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,439 Speaker 1: to produce more speckled and blemished sheep. Jacob was able 205 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: to produce stronger and healthier sheep for himself in great number. 206 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: Leban had tricked Jacob once, but Jacob was the altimate 207 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: trickster and would not be outdone again. Sir Jacob increased 208 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: in wealth and influence. With his wives, children, and newfound freedom, 209 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: Jacob ventured back to Canaan. Yet Leban would not let 210 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: Jacob go unpunished. Jacob works hard for seven more years. 211 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: Rachel is anxious to marry the man of her dreams. 212 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: Jacob comes to Laban and reminds him of the deal. 213 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: It's time to pay up. He does not want to 214 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: wait another moment to marry Rachel. At first, everything seems 215 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: to be heading in the right direction, a storybook ending 216 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: for the young couple. Laban quickly throws a great feast 217 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: with lots of food and lots of wine, of which 218 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: Jacob freely partook, no doubt, Needless to say, he was 219 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: fired up, perhaps in his haste and with the fuzzy 220 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: head of one who celebrated too much. Jacob fails to 221 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: realize that his bride that Laban brings to him is 222 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: not Rachel, but his older sister lay Up. Still, he 223 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: unites with her, marries her, and seals his fate with her, 224 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: a fact he realizes with horror and anger. The following morning, 225 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: he forcefully front's Laban and only then realize that he, 226 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: the master of deception, has been tricked. The trickster has 227 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: been tricked. Leiah is now his wife, but he really 228 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: loves Rachel, so Laban agrees to let him marry her 229 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: as well if Jacob agrees to another seven years of 230 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: hard work. Well, Jacob agrees. Rachel and Leah become bitter rivals, 231 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: but God sees Leiah's rejection and has compassion on her. 232 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: He blesses her with a fertile wound. She bears four 233 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: sons with Jacob and then stops conceiving. With each child, 234 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: she holds out hope that this new son will cause 235 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: Jacob to love her, but it never happens. Rachel, for 236 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: her part, grows increasingly bitter and demands Jacob give her 237 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: a child lest she die. Listen to Jacob's response, found 238 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: in Genesis thirty verse two. Jacob became angry with her, said, 239 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: am I in the place of God, who has kept 240 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: you from having children. This may seem at first to 241 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: be an appropriate answer, acknowledging God is the giver of life, 242 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: but if you look at it closely, Jacob is simply 243 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: denying any responsibility, even blaming God for Rachel's inability to conceive, 244 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: rather than pursuing God and asking for the blessing of 245 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: a child with Rachel. He simply says, is not on me, 246 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: This is not my fault. Rachel offers her servant to Jacob, 247 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: and he accepts just his grandfather did, and produces two 248 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: sons outside of his marriage. Leah follow suits and offers 249 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: her servant. Jacob again accepts. Like his father Isaac, he 250 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 1: seems nothing more than upon in a bitter war between siblings. 251 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: The Lord then looks on Rachel with a tender heart 252 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: of compassion and grants for the son which she's so 253 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: desperately desired. This son, Joseph. He will grow into a 254 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: man who will help save many nations one day, but 255 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: not before the ugly consequences of the rivalry between sisters 256 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: and Jacob's lack of leadership rips this fractured family apart. 257 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: In life, there are many betrayals and setbacks, as in 258 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: the case of Jacob and his family, and the question becomes, 259 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 1: how will you handle setbacks in your life? How will 260 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: you handle the mess ups that you have made? Do 261 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 1: you keep your eyes upon God and trust in Him 262 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: and repentance and faith as Jacob could have done, should 263 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: have done. It is at this point in our story 264 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: that Jacob seems to wake up and realize he needs 265 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: to leave Laban's land and it's time to return to Canaan, 266 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 1: the land of Promise. Next time we'll learn how Jacob 267 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 1: escapes his entanglement with Laban. Dear God, there are many 268 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: times that things don't turn out like we had hoped 269 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:53,199 Speaker 1: or expected. Sometimes it's our own fault. We can be 270 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: cheated or cheat others, take an advantage of, or disappoint others, 271 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: and be disappointed by others. Help us to continue to 272 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: trust You and act with integrity, not dishonesty. Thank you 273 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 1: for this lesson in your Holy Word. Amen. Thank you 274 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm 275 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 1: pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey dot 276 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 277 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love. 278 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 1: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in 279 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: Someone's life. And if you want more resources on how 280 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: to tap into God's power for successful Christian living, be 281 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless This 282 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 1: episode is sponsored by Metashare, an innovative healthcare solution for 283 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.