Good morning everyone!
Today I read Genesis chapters 30-31.
So, in these chapters, Jacob decides to leave Laban's home to start his own home.
Laban doesn't want him to go, so after God confirms that he's supposed to leave, Jacob has to sneak out. Laban pursues him, mostly because his household idols are missing.
So Laban searches the whole camp, but can't find them because Jacob didn't take them. But Rachel did, and is in fact, sitting on them.
So Laban apologizes, and makes a covenant with Jacob, saying "May God be a witness and hold you to the promise you have made to me, agreeing not to marry anyone besides my daughters, and not to mistreat them." (Genesis 31:50, paraphrased)
But Laban's daughters.
Ah. There's a topic.
So, Leah bore Jacob four sons. And Rachel gets jealous, because God closed up her womb so that she couldn't bear, because Jacob favored her above Leah.
So, Rachel gives Jacob her handmaid, Bilhah, as a wife, and Bilhah gives Jacob more children.
Leah sees this and gets jealous, and gives Jacob her handmaid, Zilpah, and Zilpah gives Jacob more children.
And this is something I just don't understand about the Old Testament.
Men were not supposed to have more than one wife, according to God's laws.
However, the society they lived in not only condoned, but encouraged it. So, often men in the Old Testament had not only more than one wife, but also concubines, and then their wives' handmaids, too; this last only at the insistence of their wives.
So, it confuses me, with my modern mindset. Even though living together and sex before marriage has become prevalent in our society today, it still isn't common for men to have more than one wife, and that is frowned on by society. In fact, it's illegal in most places.
I suppose, in a way, this was the Old Testament version of a surrogate, although it's not quite the same thing.
It just confuses me. We've discussed it a few times in my Sunday school class, mostly because it confuses me, but I still don't understand it any better.
I suppose it's one of those things I may never understand, though I'll keep seeking God for answers.
It does bring me back around to the point that none of God's people are perfect, and that should be very encouraging for all of us.
I did read an interesting article about polygamy in the Bible. And the part about Jacob and Rachel and Leah makes a lot of sense to me.
Basically, it says that Jacob sinned in marrying Rachel after he was married to Leah, and by going in to their handmaids. But that after his name gets changed, he is then truly following God, and later he puts the idols out of his home, gives his life over completely to God, and lives in monogamy with Leah after Rachel dies.
I'm skipping ahead, but this answered so many of my questions I wanted to go ahead and share it. I'll talk more about all of this as I come to it.
So, if you ever wondered why God condoned polygamy in the Bible, the answer is: He didn't. If you've ever wondered why He allowed children to be born from illicit unions, the answer is: He allows us to make our own choices, but that doesn't mean He blesses those choices.
So, that's all for today. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and to seek answers. Ask God for answers. Also do some research. God will let you know if what you find is the right answer or the wrong one.
Tomorrow I'll be reading Genesis 32-34. I hope you'll join me as I read and discuss the Bible, and ask lots of questions.
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