Chapter 36 of 1163

GENESIS 30

There are two major themes in this chapter: the building of Jacob’s family (vv. 1–24), and the building of Jacob’s fortune (vv. 25–43). Various people (including Jacob) thought they were in control of the situation, but all of it was in the hands of God.

Having grown up his mother’s favored son (25:28), Jacob was accustomed to a woman telling him what to do. But now he had four different women involved in his life! When he came home from the fields, he never knew which one he would be living with! The schemer discovered the pain that people feel when their lives are selfishly manipulated by others.

Rachel will have only two sons, Joseph and Benjamin, and Joseph will save the whole family from destruction.

Laban tried to trick Jacob and make him poor, but God overruled and made Jacob a very wealthy man. In fact, God even blessed Laban because of Jacob, and the old trickster admitted it (v. 27)! It was God’s blessing and not Jacob’s schemes that increased the flocks. God was keeping the promises He had made at Bethel (28:13–15). When we are in difficult situations, we can trust God to care for us.

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