Genesis 30

Introduction:

Remember Genesis 29: Jacob loved Rachel and worked 7 years for her.

Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Leah first.

Jacob eventually married Rachel and worked another 7 years.

Genesis 29:30: Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.

Genesis 29:31: Leah had children, but Rachel was barren.

The tension:

Leah had children but wanted Jacob's love.

Rachel had Jacob's love but wanted children.

Both sisters were looking at what the other had.

Comparison opened the door to jealousy.

Moving into Genesis 30:

Rachel looked at Leah → became jealous.

Jealousy → frustration → impatience.

Impatience → taking matters into her own hands.

POINT 1: Jealousy Can Cause Us to Walk in the Flesh.

Rachel’s focus on Leah’s blessing led to jealousy, impatience, and ultimately walking in the flesh by taking matters into her own hands.

1 Timothy 6:6 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”

POINT 2: Jacob Trusted God.

Jacob, despite difficult circumstances, continued working while trusting God to provide and fulfill His promises.

POINT 1: JEALOUSY CAN CAUSE US TO WALK IN THE FLESH

Genesis 30:1–3 | Galatians 5:16–21

A. HER EYES WERE ON HER SISTER

“Rachel saw…” — Genesis 30:1

She focused on what Leah had instead of what God had given her

Rachel was beautiful and loved by Jacob, she had her own blessings

Comparison will make you overlook your own blessing.

Application: Maybe we see God is really using this person over here and you begin to compare yourself

Someone gets promoted at work, and instead of celebrating them, you wonder, “Why didn't I get that promotion?”

Someone gets a new house or car, and suddenly you're dissatisfied with what you have.

“Rachel wasn't looking at Leah because Leah had done something to her. Rachel was looking at Leah because Leah had something Rachel desperately wanted. And if we're not careful, we'll start looking at people through the lens of what we don't have.”

B. JEALOUSY OPENED THE DOOR TO THE FLESH

Rachel envied or was jealous of her sister

Jealousy is a work of the flesh according to Galatians 5:16—22

Her jealousy produced frustration and impatience.

Her frustration was taken out on Jacob, but she was really frustrated with God

C. SHE TOOK MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS

Rachel became impatient.

She created her own solution.

She acted before God opened the door.

It refers to the surrogate sitting on the lap of the adoptive mother during both insemination and birth.

Then she interpreted the result as a blessing

“Don't let somebody else's blessing make you rush God's process.”

1.1 Genesis 30:7–23

A. THE COMPETITION CONTINUES — vv. 7–13

Rachel and Leah continue competing through their servants.

Jealousy creates a cycle of competition.

They are trying to obtain through human effort what they are waiting on God to provide.

B. THE MANDRAKES — vv. 14–16

Mandrakes fertility and conception Reuben finds, a plant whose fruit was associated in the ancient world with. 

Rachel wanted the mandrakes because she believed they might help her have children.

This shows how desperation can cause us to look for solutions everywhere except trusting God.

Leah and Rachel even bargain over them.

“When we become desperate for a blessing, we can start putting our trust in the blessing instead of the Blesser.”

C. GOD WAS STILL IN CONTROL — vv. 17–21

Leah continues having children.

Despite all the competition, bargaining, and human effort, God remains sovereign.

D. GOD REMEMBERED RACHEL — vv. 22–23

“And God remembered Rachel…”

God opened her womb.

What Rachel had tried to accomplish through her own methods, God ultimately did in His own timing.

“They tried to make it happen, but when God was ready, God made it happen.”

Point 2 Jacob Trusted God — Genesis 30:25–43

a) He remembered his promised destination — v. 25–26

“Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.”Genesis 30:25: 

After all those years, Jacob still knew where he belonged.

b) He trusted God with his provision — vv. 31–33

Jacob asked for the animals as his wages. speckled and spotted 

The arrangement appeared to favor Laban.

Jacob was willing to trust God with the outcome.

c) He worked faithfully — vv. 37–40

Jacob took action with the flocks.

He didn't simply sit and wait for God.

He worked while trusting God.

d) God caused Jacob to prosper — v. 43

“And the man increased exceedingly…”

Jacob did his part, but he trusted God for the increase.”