Genesis 30

Scripture:  Genesis 30:1-24

Observation:  Seeing her sister have 4 sons brings such grief to Rachel that she tells Jacob she will die if she doesn't have children.  Jacob angrily tells her he is not God and has no control over the situation.  So she gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, and Bilhah gives birth to two sons.  Leah does the same; her maid Zilpah also has 2 sons.  The animosity between the two sisters is even more evident when Reuben, Leah's oldest son, brings her some mandrakes, herbs believed to help with fertility, and Rachel asks for some.  Leah bitterly answers, "You've taken away my husband, will you now also take my son's mandrakes?"  Rachel agrees to trade a night with Jacob for some mandrakes, and Leah has her 5th son, followed by son #6.  She also has a daughter named Dinah.  Finally God hears Rachel and gives her a son, which she names Joseph.

Application:  What a difference between women in Biblical times, who desired and treasured children and wanted nothing more than motherhood, and today's attitude, which sees children as a burden and must be properly timed and controlled.  Our children are a gift, and a blessing.  When we see them as such we cherish them all the more.

Prayer:  Father, I'm so thankful for my children.  You gave me a tremendous gift, and yet I have complained about them at times.  I do cherish and appreciate these precious children, even when I get frustrated or agitated.  They are wonderful, and I pray I can raise them as You have called me to, in Your admonition.  I pray that I will serve as an example to them, and show them how important they are to me because they are a gift from You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.