The Birth of a Nation

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 119:81-88

Psalm 119:81–88 ESV

My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Scripture memorization: Genesis 50:19-20

Genesis 50:19–20 “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:26-28

Romans 8:26–28 ESV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Sermon:

Good Morning Church! I was glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

This morning we turn our attention to Genesis chapter 29, verse 31 through chapter 30, verse 24.

In the ESV, they've titled this section, “Jacob's children”. And this is the first way that we can think of it. it is the birth of children to Jacob, but that does not get the full weight of what is really happening here.

We say that God is the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But we will also say sometimes that God is the god of Israel. Which is interesting to think through. Israel... will get to this story in a couple weeks… But Isreal IS Jacob. Jacob will have his name changed to Israel. but when we talk about God being the god of Israel. We don't usually mean Jacob, but just with a different name. Usually, we refer to Israel as the nation of Israel. Which in the Bible. Is the conglomeration of the 12 tribes. Of Israel. The Twelve Tribes of Israel are thus named after the 12 sons. Of Israel, AKA. Jacob.

And so we're setting the foundation in the text we're reading today... We are laying the foundation for... We could almost even say the geopolitical structure. Of yes, the Book of Genesis. Yes. All of the Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Deuteronomy… . Yes, all through the books of History. Yes, all through the Old Testament, Yes, even the New Testament, and I would even argue, yes Throughout all time.

God is working in such a way, and he's working through this family. This family that we've read over and over again, God will grow them into a nation. Abraham, you'll have many descendants. There'll be a great nation. Isaac, the promise, is re-entered to you. You will become a great nation. Jacob had the vision at Bethel, and God said, I will make you into a great nation. Well, here. In Genesis 29 31-30:24. Is in many ways, the birth. Of this nation.

It's still only 12 Suns. So, maybe not, a full nation yet, but here's the seed. And here lays the foundation of a nation, but also of many of the difficulties, the strike, the trials, The Strife, the trouble seen in the rest of the Book. And so, to understand this passage is critical. But it's also very difficult.

Because it's a family tree. With one man, four women. 12 children here, only 11 sons… So for one we have to. We're going to fast forward a few chapters to get to another one. And so, understanding how this works is important. So, I, I struggled… all of that to say, I've struggled this week mightily.

IN my mind and heart there's two things that need to happen. There's teaching, and there's preaching. My goal today is BOTH. So on one hand, the goal Today is teaching. I want you to see and know and understand how. Jacob and his wives and his wives, handmaidens, how they have children, how those children grow into tribes, how those tribes grow into Nations, and how that impacts the rest of the Bible. The goal is to teach you how all that works, but we cant get all the way there, but maybe I can teach you just the beginning… .

But the goal today is also to preach. But I also hope to speak to your heart and soul and do a little preaching as well. To try to encourage you to lift you up to help us to see that God is at work even in the midst of difficult, painful. Times.

We're not going to read it all at once. We're gonna I'm gonna try to unveil the stages because I think it's easier for us to remember, that's the teaching part… Its easier to remember If we see the pattern and if we see it take place in time, so we're not going to read the whole thing all at once. We will read through it all, but let's open our time together. Then, with a word of prayer.

Dear Lord, we do thank you for your goodness and Grace. We thank you that you are the God who calls, that you are the God who saves, that you are the God who works in our hearts. That when we were dead in sin and trespasses, you made us alive together with Christ that when we were Rebels to your, will you called us and made us a people. We read in Hosea. That that you will have mercy. On no mercy, and you will call your people those who are not your people, and so we, we welcome your grace and goodness. We ask this morning that you would give us ears to hear and eyes to see. Speak through your word. I ask this morning that you would speak through your servant. May I speak with Clarity but also passion as we seek to understand your word. It's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen.

To remind us of the context. This is important. Jacob has just been duped by Laban into marrying both of his daughters. On one hand, there was Rachel. The beautiful in works and deed and appearance daughter... Who's now wife... Rachel. And Leah.... Who has weak eyes? That's what we know about her. And in these two wives. Jacob, we read

Genesis 29:30 “So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.”

So, last week, we we talked. There's 14 years. It was all figured out it was seven get married... twice... seven more years. Well, in the midst of these seven last years, it's very momentous and eventful time. And so, we're going to zoom in on those seven years and see what happens after he's married.

Genesis 29:31 “When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.”

Jacob needs Sons. He needs Sons to be to become a nation... he needs descendents. The same problem that we dealt with when Abraham didn't have Isaac, and then when Isaac had no kids and his wife was Barren, we're now dealing with that problem again. Jacob needs children.

Of his two wives. One is loved and one is hated. But God looks upon the situation... God looks upon this situation. And to the one who's hated. He opens her womb. And to the one who's loved. She is Barren. And so the birth of the Nation starts with the hated wife, the hated older sister. It starts with Leah.

LEAH

The Lord comes as a note I put in your in your outline again because we're doing teaching and preaching here in your bulletin. You should have one piece of paper that has a bunch of blanks… it has four stars and 12 little indent arrows… That's for you to write out the genealogy, or to go back to the preaching and teaching thing… that's the teaching portion, filling that out.

And then in your bulletin, the place where we normally take notes. That's just blank. If God speaks to your heart in anything, that's where you can write that there. that's the preaching part…

So, that's why the two sheets that's what's going on here.

So, the first star, the one on top I'll give you a hint the one with six Blanks underneath it. That's going to be Leah. And even jsut starting here, with a numbert… six blanks… That's important. Why? Because God is the one who is opening her womb. Before we dive in before we talk about all the stuff that's going to take place here, the first and foremost and most important thought that we can get is this only God can open the womb, and only God can close it.

God is Sovereign over all of this.

When I was a youth pastor, we would talk. I would try to talk to the kids, encouraging them, right, trying to fight against the evils of the world and of the present age…. And, and when you're a youth pastor in modern day, you have to deal and talk to at least a little bit with teenage pregnancy and abortion. And what I would always tell them is that No child is ever a mistake.

Now, we make mistakes and having sex. and 15, 16 year old having premarital sex… I would call that A HUGE mistake. Having sex is a mistake... getting pregnant... You can't do that only God can do that and therefore it's by definition. Not a mistake.

And here, as we read this story over all of this. Note this God is the one who is Sovereign over opening and closing wombs, and we start with Leah. Her womb is opened.

Genesis 29:32 “And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.””

She has a firstborn, the firstborn of Jacob. As a son named Reuben.

REUBEN

Leah is the one naming... it's interesting. The women are the ones naming the children in all of this, save one exception… which is fascinating, and she names her first son, Ruben.

Reuben means simply “See a son”? The breakdown is REU - See BEN - a son… Here's a son, but notice her heart. This becomes important as we walk our way through this. Leah. Who is unloved? It's a nice way to say it. Verse 31 said she was hated. Now, probably. He didn't fully hate her. He's willing to have relations with her. It's probably a contrasting the the amount of love he has for Rachel makes it feel like Leah's hated. But what is in her heart? Her heart is to be with her husband. She names her son, Ruben, look a son because the Lord looked on me. So, look a son because the Lord looked on me. For now, my husband will love me.

This is heartbreaking. She has a son, and now her first thought is maybe now. Now that I have produced an offspring now that that he has a son. Now that the promises of God… for certain, Leah and Rachel knew of the promises given to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. This had to been a topic of conversation at the dinner table and at all times in their lives, probably. BUt leahs thought is that Now that I have a son now, because the sun came through me now, my husband. Will love me.

But she has another son. This son will be Simeon.

SIMEON

Genesis 29:33 “She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.”

Reuben means “See a son” Simeon means “heard”. The Lord has heard that I'm hated. This is after the first Son. We have the first son look and see now. The Lord has looked on me now. My husband will love me… Well not really… but Now, the Lord has heard that I'm still hated, so he gave me a second son as well. Now, maybe this will work. So we have the first son doesn't still love her. Have the second one, maybe God has heard.

We have a third son, the son named Levi.

LEVI

Genesis 29:34 “Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.”

Well, Levi means “attached”... Just so we know when we say “means” this means that the name sounds like the word that means that… really these are all sort of naming PUNS… So, Leah has gone. Maybe my husband will love me? He doesn't love her. Well, God heard that I am hated. Maybe this will help the situation? Hasn't worked. Leah thinks now, at least at the third son. Now, my husband will be attached to me. He'll be identified to me, he'll be with me.

Long sad story short… Doesn't work.

So she has a fourth son. Son by the name of Judah.

JUDAH

Genesis 29:35 “And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.”

Judah sounds like the Hebrew word for “praise”.

And here in Leah. I think we have the first thing that we can maybe learn for our souls. God is the one who is working on her behalf. God is the one who is opening her womb, and so God did give her Reuben. God did give her Simeon. God did give her Levi and God did give her Judah.And God is the one working.

But at the beginning, she looks and thinks. My problems can be fixed by these external things. My problem can be. I have a son, my problem's fixed. My husband will love me. He doesn't. I have another son. Well, now, God heard. He heard that. I'm hated God has heard. Now, this will fix it. This doesn't fix it. We have Levi. Well, at least this will attach my husband to me, at least this will work. It doesn't work. So, finally, as she comes to her fourth son, she begins to praise.

It's praise! Praise is the right result, because God's the one working, though the situation is broken, though Leah's heart is one of desperation and sorrow… she she feels the hatred. She feels The Angst. She feels that she is unloved and unwanted. God has God has answered her prayer. She has children. Her heart is finally coming towards the right place coming. She's not there yet. She's still going to make mistakes. But she's going to praise the Lord.

So this is the start of the birth of a Nation. We have one wife. Leah. And Leah has four sons. But this is not how this story ends, and 4 sons do make make a nation or 12 tribes… So we truck on and it just gets more and more murky and muddy And difficult.

Genesis 30:1 “When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!””

The important thought here is of envy and this idea of Envy. This is hatred of her sister for the things that her sister has. Right. The word here carries even more weight than just jealous. jealousy is that I want what they have... Envy here. This, this idea of envious is I want what she has. I hate her for it, and if I don't get it, I will die.

This is what she does. She comes to Jacob and says, if give me children or I will die. And this is what we'll talk about in our Grace Point this week. But here's the only thing Jacob really actively does in this whole passage. And here he gets it, right?

Genesis 30:2 “Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?””

Jacob admits what I started this sermon with what is the most important thought that only God can open and close wounds? And so she comes to Jacob, she says, well, why haven't you given me a kid, and Jesus is not up to me! I'm not God. I cannot give you a child. And he's right.

But instead of Rachel hearing, well, Jacob can't give me a child. I will look to God. Instead. She goes back to the old Playbook of her family. We've seen this. Let's go back to the old mistakes of my family before, right? When we saw that that Isaac did the whole, my wife is my sister maneuver, right? Learn that from his dad, here we go well. Rachel hears going to pull the Sarah maneuver of. Or if not me, maybe my handmaiden? And so, what feels like a very, very difficult shift here? We might think, well, Leah is going to have some kids and Rachel's going to have some kids. That's not how this goes down. Leah has four kids. Now, she's barren… Rachel wants kids, but she can't have them because only God can do that. But instead of trusting God, she thinks up her own idea, and now we move to the sons that Jacob has with bilhah.

BILHAH

Well, who's Bilhah You might ask.

Genesis 29:29 “(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)”

Genesis 30:3–4 “Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.”

Here's Rachel's plan fine. I can't have kids go. Well go to my servant. She'll have kids. This did not work for Sarah and Hagar. It caused difficulty, strife, and turmoil in her heart in Sarah's heart, and she hated her… She kicked Hagar Ishmael out. It was difficult. Rachel thinks well, I'll do the same thing. So she gives him her servant as a wife and Jacob went into her.

Genesis 30:5 “And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.”

Bilhah will have sons, two of them, the first Dan.

DAN

Genesis 30:6 “Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.”

All of these names have to do with what the women say Dan means “judged”.

And here, she's saying, well, God has looked, and he has judged me. And she's actually wrong in her thinking that God has judged me worthy. But how does this make sense? Rachel God has judged you worthy, and so bilha has a son?!? She's still caught in her own warped thinking, just like Leah was caught in hers too in naming now my husband will love me and looking to to the external to fix the problems in her heart, so too Rachel looks at the situation thinks okay, it's fixed. Uh, I know what's gonna happen here? My sister went and had kids. I'll have my own kids. I'll just do it through my servant. Here is Dan.

Genesis 30:7–8 “Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.”

Two tribes of Israel that come from Bilhah Dan and nephthali.

NEPTHALI

Naphthali sounds like the Hebrew word for “wrestling”. And the thought here that Rachel's downloading into the name of this child here is. I struggled with my sister, she had four, but I have two. and so I'm catching up. Even though they're not her kids, and even if she thinks well, I have wrestled, and I have prevailed. God's the one opening and closing wombs, but here's her thought I've wrestled. I've prevailed, so she calls this child Neptali.

Now, Leah who looked to her children To be the source of love and affection and attachment to her husband has not found that. Looks out and sees, well, Rachel's now starting to have kids, even though they're not her kids. This is how their mind is thinking. Rachel now has these kids. And she's catching up. The heart is this: four to zero… hat's a blowout. 4-2.... She might catch up.

So, Leah decides. I'll have more children. But what's the problem? Well, we read it in the last verse of chapter 29. Then she ceased bearing.

Leah, who was once Fertile and having many kids is now Barren. SO now, Rachel's catching up. So, what do we do? Well, the next set of children that are born to Jacob don't come from. Leah, God has not opened her womb, and not from Rachel, God has not opened her womb, and not from Bilhah.. They come from zilpah,

ZILPAH

who's zilpa? Well, I'm glad you asked. Genesis chapter 29, verse 24

Genesis 29:24 “(Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)”

Leah's solution is two can play at that game.

Genesis 30:9–11 “When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad.”

GAD

Gad is the next Sons. So in order up to now we have: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan nephthali, gad.

Gad means “good fortune”, so she looks at her son, okay. Thank my lucky stars. I thought when I was Barren that that now my children bearing days, my children raising days were were all gone and past. But what good luck that the servant my father gave me is just as fertile as the servant that that my father gave to my sister? So now! We're back in the lead, and it's only going to grow. We went from four - nothing to four two. Now, it's five - two. Good Fortune, and it gets better!

Genesis 30:12–13 “Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher.”

We're back to a four child lead. This is literally how we should read through these. We're back to a four child lead. We have Gad and we have Asher.

Happy, am I? Women have called me happy. People look at me. Because now, from Leah’s point of view, I had four. Now, we're up to six. Though we've broken down this way to point out, she still only has four.... Four from Leah. Two from bilha. Two from zilpa. We're to eight sons. Of the 12 tribes of Israel.

And to be honest, Se is still not happy, she is still not fulfilled. Women may call her happy, but she is not really feeling it at all!

Well, what's gonna happen? How does the story go on? Is Rachel? This becomes the question… Is Rachel going to have any children of her own. As we read through this story, what becomes apparent is these children through servants? It does not cut it in the heart of these women. Because Rachel still feels like she has no kids. And it's not cutting in Leah’s mind and heart either because all these kids are not filling the void she feels because her husband doesn't love her. This is at the heart of this situation. And so we get to verse 14.

Genesis 30:14 “In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.””

Let's pause here. What's going on here, historically speaking isd that Ruben's out, and he finds mandrakes… some sort of fruit? These mandrakes were thought to have… Fertilizing power.

They were more than just we might say an aphrodisiac, but they were that AND they also could help women who were Barren.

So, this was. This was the ancient near East version. Of going to the fertility clinic, the best way I can summarize this. The mandrakes were to have specail power in these women... they were a rare fruit. That's why it's no notable that Reuben went and found them, and he brings them back, and he gives them to his mother. And Rachel is filled with Envy. Then, Rachel said to Leah. Please give me some of your son's mandrake's... the underlying subtext that we don't read, but is here is that Rachel thinks if I get the mandrakes they will open my womb. My womb will be opened. And then, maybe I can actually have kids.

Genesis 30:15 “But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?”

The sisterly Strife is full front right in front of us. Rachel wants these mandarins because she wants a kid. Leah hates Rachel. Because she stole her husband she around and is upset… is taking my husband not enough from you. And from Leah's point of view.... This is why this is so clouded and convoluted. She was married to him first, but he didn't want to be married to her in the first place. She stole Jacob, but then she was married. First, they both have claim this is sticky and ugly situation...

You stole my husband. You took away my husband. You're gonna take away my son's mandrakes, too. You're gonna take away that thing, which could help… Remember… Leah has been Barren this whole time again as well, so we've been doing the whole thing with the servants. You're gonna take these away from me too.

Genesis 30:15 Rachel said, “Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.””

Notice where Rachel puts the authority, and power… the thought here. The power's not in God, the powers of the mandranks.

AND see the warped priorities… Fine, the I took your husband and I took your Mandarins fine. Have your husband back.

It's what she says. So, in comes verse 16 Jacob clueless. For life, ability to put it Waltzing in like a bumbling idiot. He walks in from the field, verse 16,

Genesis 30:16 “When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night.”

Listen clearly, she just said. I bought. Intimate relations with you. Jacob... you are a prostitute, and the going price is a couple of mandrakes. So he lay with her that night.

Okay, we don't know how the full conversation we don't know his heart. In all of this, she said, I bought you. So he goes into her that night.

Verse 17. Who has the power to open wounds? Does the mandrakes have power to open wounds, or does God

Genesis 30:17 “And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.”

So we go Leah bilhah zilpah. Back to Leah. She has a fifth son named Issachar.

ISSACHAR

Genesis 30:18 “Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.”

Issachar means “wages”. So, again, I paid my time. And for her... The paying of time is tragic.. but it is I had to watch. This is so warped, but let's make sure we understand the picture. I had to watch my husband conceive in their children with my servant. But I did my time. God saw me do my time. And so now I've paid my wages, and I got a fifth son. So, for those counting, the score is. From one point of view seven to two. From a real point of view. Five to two to two to zero. Well, congratulations! She Bears a fifth son.. and she is not doen yet…

Genesis 30:19 “And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son.”

ZEBULUN

Zebulun. You can see the score board Jacob's sixth son.

Genesis 30:20 “Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.”

Notice the breaking of Leah's heart here. In her first Sons, it went from. My husband will love me to. Well, maybe he won't hate me too. Well, at least he'll be attached to me. Finally, we're praising God. But we're still warped in our thinking here. And then we have our wages. God heard my prayer. Now I have a son and here in zebulun.. and Zebulun means Honor.

If I can't have anything else from my husband? Maybe I can have some honor?

At the end of the day, she will have honor, though maybe not from her Husband… . To try to tie this to the New Testament, just a little bit. At the end of the day. From Leah. Right of all those names here. Reuben, we might have heard of that. We might know some people named Ruben and, or you've, eaten the sandwich. Simeon. Ethan, the pastor before me. He named his his first son, Simeon, though not named after the tribe, named after Charles Simeon. Okay, we've heard these. There's two that we we know of more from thier role in Scripture… Levi the Levites, the Priestly tribe Leah, will be honored the priests of God, the the ones who intercede between man and God come from Leah. Leah's blood flows through the Priestly tribe.

And then Judah. The kingly tribe. She will receive honor... kings come through Leah. The king, going through culminating in the King of Kings, the king, who sits forever on the throne, comes from Leah. She will receive honor. Finally, she gets what her heart wants honor.

Genesis 30:21 “Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.”

It's very interesting that we have a daughter named. It's because she's going to be very important in a very difficult passage coming later in the Book of Genesis, this is more of a historical and literary note, BUt total, I didn't put a blank because we're focusing on the 12 tribes here.

But from Leah, six tribes, six sons, and one daughter. God has blessed her. So, for us, keeping score the score is. Leah 6 Leah's servant TWO Rachel's servant TWO Rachel… a big fat zero.

And it sounds I, I know, it sounds crass to to talk about keeping score here. But, as you read it. It is crass and vindictive and ugly and aweful… that's the feeling you get. And so, here's Rachel. Once loved. Filled with Envy. Once thought, I'll scheme my way, but still feels empty. Turns out the mandrakes didn't do anything for her.

Genesis 30:22 “Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.”

RACHEL

We come back to Rachel. God remembered. Rachel and God listened to her and opened her womb. Somewhere, don't know where, and I don't know how long. At some point in Rachel's life, she moved from scheming. I'll do it in my own way. I'll get my servant. At some point she stopped Trusting in mandrakes and and the wisdom of the world. I'll get the mandrakes then. I'll have my womb open somewhere. She turned her heart, and she cried out to God. And so God remembered her. He never actually forgot her. God looked to her, and he heard her prayers. He listened to her, and he opened her womb.

Genesis 30:23–24 “She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the Lord add to me another son!””

JOSEPH

Joseph. Means. “may he add”. May it be added. Rachel finally sees hope. God has taken away my reproach here. her reproach was her baronness. She viewed it as a reproach, an offense against her. She could not bear children, that which she desired.

We could come down on her if we want… Did she desire? Commentaries argue about this. Did she desire kids because she wanted kids, or did she say her kids because she wanted to be the favored loved wife through whom the blessings the promised child will come. I don't know the full answer, probably just my point of view. It's both.

Because all of these situations are complicated and difficult, but she looks upon this child. May the Lord add to me another son. May the Lord add, may the Lord add.

And this is how the story here ends. It's difficult.

It's this, I'm gonna have more kids who's gonna be more loved, who's gonna receive the affection, who's going to care for us… maybe no I will have more and more kids… and then I will be fulfilled.… And wer the balks and sermon to end where this passage ends there is no resolution, and she does not have more children...

The servants are doing this and this situation is broken here and above all of this above all of it, but what is going on? Well Rachel gets one thig right, God is working here. God is Reigning. God's the one who's opening wounds because Leah was hated. God opened her womb. Because God had a plan to save a people to make a great nation. God allowed the Folly with the servants. And here because of God's care because he heard the prayer of Rachel. He opens her womb, and she has a child as well.

I do however want to tie a bow on this. And so we're going to flip forward just a little bit. To Genesis chapter 35, verse 16.

A lot has happened here. They've gone back. There's there's going to be a whole scene where Jacob and Laban are going to go at it again and again. Jacob's going to have his name changed God's going to bless him. They're going to come back to home for Jacob, not home for Rachel and Leah and the servants, but home for Jacob.

Genesis 35:16–17 “Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.””

In the time before any sort of epidurals and pain relief full as natural a childbirth as possible, here is Rachel having a difficult childbirth. She asked for another son. God heard that prayer she's going to have another son.

But it's gonna cost her everything.

Genesis 35:18 “And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni;

So she calls his name, “son of my sorrow”. And this one is not a pun… it is luiteral… Ben - son Oni - sorrow.

And only son of my sorrow.

And she breathes her last. For Rachel. There are two sons Joseph and Benjamin.

BENJAMIN

WAit… I thought you said his name was Ben Oni? The son of? Sorrow.

His father renames him… the only child interesting to note who gets his name From Joseph. Israel, his name's been changed by now, but get his name from Jacob...

Jacob names Benjamin.

Genesis 35:18 but his father called him Benjamin.”

Benjamin means the “son of my right hand”.

Genesis 35:19 “So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),”

Rachel has another son, Benjamin. Jacob names Benjamin, the son of my right hand, this shows his favor. Because Rachel was his favorite. He loved her. Cared for her.

And thus, the birth of the 12 tribes of Israel. Reuben, Simeon Levi, Judah, Dan nephthali, Gad Asher, ISSsachar Zebulon, Joseph and Benjamin. The twelve Sons Of Jacob.

They become a nation. Those of us who know the way that the story pans out the roots are seen here… Joseph will be sold into slavery.

Why would his brothers do that, well they hate his dreams, nut there is more, that more starts here… Joseph being for a long time, the only son of the favorite wife gives him a privileged status in his father's heart. And all of the others have all the same feelings of my Leah, that my father will love me, my all this, built into their very names. They will live it out, is going to cause difficulty. There's sorrow upon sorrow heaped into this story upon story built into this. And then the way these will interact and the older sons will do this and the younger sons will do this. And we'll read about this and we'll read about that. It all comes back to this.

This messy family tree It's convoluted, it's crazy.

SO to tie a bow on That's teaching. Hopefully, you remember. When we talk about oh, Simeon did this. Oh, that's the second son of Leah. Asher did that. Oh, that's the. The youngest son of Leah's servant. Joseph did that? That's the oldest son of the most loved wife. Benjamin did this. That's the son of the right hand. The lasting memory that Joseph that Jacob has of his beloved wife. These become important in how we understand the rest of the story.

BUt for the preaching know this: above all of that God is Sovereign. Man plots and schemes, women plot and scheme. God's the only one? Who has authority to create life? And God will bless in spite of and through, sometimes even in the midst of. Are flailing. As you read this story, it's what it feels like it's flailing, sees women flailing for love and affection, doing whatever they can to make it seem right in their own and trying to fix their situation and doing this other stuff they're flailing.

God works in the midst of it. They become a mighty Nation. These 12 Suns become a great and Powerful Nation. God blesses him. God keeps him. Through these sons, we have salvation God's doing it all. May we trust in the God who's working through? Even here orchestrating The birth of a Nation.

Let's pray.