This week we continue the story of Jacob’s life after he marries both Leah and Rachel.

If you remember from “Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 2,” Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah by his uncle Laban. He had worked seven years for whom he thought was Rachel, Leah’s younger sister. He woke up the morning after the wedding ceremony and found out it was Leah who was with him. He was not at all happy about this and confronted Laban who insisted that he had to marry his oldest daughter first. Laban offered Rachel to Jacob in marriage for another seven years of work and Jacob accepted this offer because it was Rachel whom he loved.

Messed up!

And this is in the Bible? Oh yes, and it is true.

The good news is that God can take our human mess and use it for His purpose and for our good.

Let’s continue the story.

Jacob’s children

Jacob fathered 12 sons and 1 daughter by Leah, Rachel, and their handmaids. His first four children were born to Leah—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Rachel had been without a child for a few years and was quite upset about this, so she gave her servant Bilhah to him so that she could conceive a child for her. Bilhah gave birth to Dan.

Once again, we witness a chosen and loved wife feeling insecure about not having a child of her own. You would think that this lesson would have been passed down and learned from Sarah and Abraham. Instead of taking her concern of being barren to the LORD, Rachel became jealous of her sister Leah and devised a way of having children through her handmaid.

We cause ourselves a multitude of problems when we do not trust God and lay our sensitive issues before Him.  

Not long after Dan was born, Bilhah gave birth to another son named Naphtali.

Then Leah could not conceive, so she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife in hopes of having more children. Zilpah gave birth to Gad and then to Asher.

I personally cannot imagine sharing my husband with any woman, let alone three other wives with their own children. I guess you could say that I have a righteous jealousy. I wouldn’t be able to live this way, not to mention the chaos that comes with all of this.

This was not God’s design.

No matter how one may explain or even excuse this behavior, God created one woman for one man (Genesis 2:20b-24).

Eventually Leah became pregnant again and bore Issachar; and then again with Zebulun; and again, with a daughter, Dinah.

Finally, Rachel was able to conceive and gave birth to Joseph. Later after Jacob’s return to Canaan, Rachel gave birth to Benjamin.

Jacob Becomes Successful

After many years of shepherding in both Canaan and Haran, Jacob was very knowledgeable in the breeding and raising of sheep and goats.

He lived in Haran and worked for Laban fourteen years, completing his commitment for his wives. During these years, all his children except Benjamin were born in Haran.

Jacob decided to leave and return to his family in Canaan. He spoke with his uncle about his intentions, but Laban wanted him to stay and offered him whatever he asked. Laban knew that God was with Jacob and had blessed him through Jacob’s work these fourteen years.

Jacob wanted nothing from Laban and told him so, but he decided to work with him a while longer to show his uncle once again his loyalty to him.  It turned out that Jacob stayed another six years.

During this time, Laban tried to make it as difficult as possible for Jacob to be successful and separated Jacob from him a distance of three days travel.

But God was with Jacob and he became even more successful.

Instead of being grateful for Jacob’s success, Laban and his sons became jealous and began accusing Jacob of cheating them and stealing from them.

At this point, God was ready for Jacob to return to his family in Canaan.

And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

Genesis 31:2-3

God’s timing is perfect!

We need to remember this when we are feeling down and disappointed with the difficulties in our lives. We may not see it, but God is always working on behalf of his children.

Our focus should always be on serving and following God—no matter what.

In the famous words of Dr. Charles Stanley, one of my lifelong mentors in the LORD, “Obey God and leave all the consequences up to Him.”

We will have success when we wait upon the LORD. It may not be easy and it may be a long wait, but God has only the best intentions for us. We may not understand it at the time, but if we will trust Him and walk in obedience to Him, we will one day understand why God allowed difficulties in our lives. Sometimes, we perpetrate these hardships, other times we are being refined and groomed for God’s purposes.

After God tells Jacob that it’s time to leave Haran, he immediately speaks to Leah and Rachel to let them know that they will be leaving for Canaan. Jacob reminds them of how he served their father, Laban, faithfully all these years and was loyal to him. He reminds them how their father cheated him again and again, and is now becoming hostile toward him. He also tells them that God has seen all this and has made him successful anyway, and is now telling him to leave for Canaan.  

Jacob’s wives respond in favor of leaving.

Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”

Genesis 31:14-16

Imagine trying to convince your spouse to leave their family and the only home they’ve ever known under such circumstances. Jacob had to convince two wives who were sisters, jealous of each other and who worked against each other.

When God is in it, He makes the way possible!

Jacob leaves Paddan-aram (Haran) without notifying Laban, and heads toward Canaan with his wives, children, servants, and livestock. The Bible tells us that he was wealthy, and in those days, this meant a lot of people and flocks were part of the caravan leaving Haran. This was going to be a long, slow journey.

Join me next for Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 4

Wishing you God’s abundant blessings as you walk with Him.

Below is a beautiful song about how God always makes a way for us when He is in our battles.

Don’t give up following God—He is with you and for you!  

Way Maker – Leeland