Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 10: The Handmaids

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.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 9: Jacob

Hello friends!

It has been a busy morning. I had to take my poor car in to the mechanic for rodent damage.

Yep. You read that right. Rodents got into my car engine and chewed through some wires. Thankfully, the damage was minimal and it only made a few warning lights go off on my dashboard.

So, the appointment was really early this morning, and I wasn't able to post this morning.

Then Mom and I went shopping in the thrift stores. I found some great deals, including the cutest little orange ceramic cat.

Isn't he cute? I saw him in the store, and despite the slight flaw in his ear, I fell in love and knew I had to bring him home. So, he's sitting in the curio cabinet, among other much-loved treasures.

I love shopping in thrift-stores. Sometimes you can really find the cutest things!

Anyway, long story short, I have been really busy today, and while I did do the reading for my devotional this morning (I'll make a separate post on that when I finish it) I haven't had a chance to sit down and do my RBY challenge reading yet.

Yikes!

So, here we go!

Today, I'm reading Genesis chapters 27-29.

Well, no one can say that the people in the Old Testament were perfect.

I think that makes them great examples for us. Well, most of them. It makes them human.

First, Jacob took Esau's birthright. Now, he takes his blessing. With Rebekah's help. At Rebekah's insistence. By covering himself in animal skins, Jacob is able to trick his blind father into thinking he is Esau, who, by the way, was very hairy.

And Esau gets so angry about it that he wants to kill Jacob.

Talk about some family drama!

So, Rebekah sends him away to her brother Laban.

Now, on the way, Jacob spends the night on the road. One night, he has a dream about a ladder reaching to heaven where the angels of God were climbing (Genesis 28:10).

God speaks to him and shows him the land that he will give to Jacob's descendants, and promises to protect him.

Now, this is after Jacob did the bad thing of tricking his father and brother. 

God does not condone deceit, nor can He stay where sin is, but some choices, even some of our bad choices, can be a part of God's plan, so that He can get us where we need to be.

I would not be the same person today, and I would not have my awesome testimony of how far God has brought me, if I'd never messed up.

Jacob continues on his journey, and when he reaches Laban's house, he sees Rachel. Ah, Rachel. The gorgeous younger sister. It's sort of love at first sight for Jacob.

And he stays and works for his uncle Laban for a while, and Laban declares that Jacob should be paid for what he has done. Jacob wants only to marry Rachel. That's not a bad deal, as she loves him too.

So, Jacob works seven years for Laban in order to marry Rachel.

Side note: If you read love stories in the Bible, it is always the man who works to marry the woman. Never the other way around. Ladies, if he's not willing to work for it, drop him like he's a nasty thing you found on the bottom of your shoe. A real man will work to earn you, because the price of a godly woman is far above jewels (Proverbs 31).

Anyway, back to Jacob and Rachel.

Jacob works seven years before he can marry Rachel.

And Jacob marries Laban's daughter.

Only it's the wrong daughter. Remember, back in those days, wedding garbs would have been different, so she would have been veiled completely, and Jacob wouldn't have seen her until after they were married.

Laban didn't want his younger daughter to marry before the older. Also, the Bible says that Leah wasn't as pretty as her sister.

Jacob is furious, naturally. But he's married to Leah now, and there's nothing he can do about it.

Except work for another seven years and then marry Rachel.

Which he does.

Now, something interesting happens next. Jacob loves Rachel, but not Leah. In fact, even though the Bible doesn't say so explicitly, I can imagine that he might even be a little cold toward Leah.

And God sees this, and doesn't like the way Jacob is treating his first wife. So, He makes Rachel barren. Yep. I said barren. And Leah gives Jacob four kids.

Now, remember how I said earlier that even when we mess up, God can turn it around for His purpose?

Well, I consider marrying the wrong woman messing up. Even if it's not your fault. But God still had a purpose for them. Especially in this case.

Leah's four kids are named Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.

Do any of those sound familiar? If not, don't worry. I'll talk more about why they're important later.

If you're impatient, you can read ahead. Tomorrow, I'll be reading Genesis chapters 30-31.