According to the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, past mistakes documented by the Bible serve as a history lesson. Prior to the introduction of the Ten Commandments and Book of Leviticus, the goal for godly living was to habitually walk with God like Enoch and Noah. Since rules about marriage had not been unveiled, descendants of Abraham learned by trial and error. When it comes to relationships, Jacob was either living a dream or experiencing a nightmare of bitter women.
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I will die! 2 And Jacob became very angry with Rachel and he said, Am I in God’s stead, Who has denied you children? 3 And she said, See here, take my maid Bilhah and have intercourse with her; and [when the baby comes] she shall deliver it upon my knees, that I by her may also have children. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her maid as a [secondary] wife, and Jacob had intercourse with her. 5 And Bilhah became pregnant and bore Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God has judged and vindicated me, and has heard my plea and has given me a son; so she named him Dan [judged], Genesis 30:1-6.
The expression “be careful what you wish for” dates back to the second century before the birth of Christ. Aesop’s Fables states “be careful what you wish for, lest it comes true” was recorded around 260 BC. As for Jacob, grandson of Abraham who was promised descendants as numerous as stars in the sky, having lots of children was likely something he talked about. However, once Rachel and Leah gave him their maids to serve as secondary wives, this seems like a dream rather than reality.
When Leah saw that she had ceased to bear, she gave Zilpah her maid to Jacob as a [secondary] wife. 10 And Zilpah, Leah’s maid, bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, Victory and good fortune have come; and she named him Gad [fortune]. 12 Zilpah, Leah’s maid, bore Jacob [her] second son. 13 And Leah said, I am happy, for women will call me blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied); and she named him Asher [happy], Genesis 30:9-13.
Legend has it that former NBA star and Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain slept with over 1,000 women over the course of his life. Perhaps, Chamberlain was trying to one up King Solomon who accumulated 700 wives and 300 concubines, 1Kings 11:3. Nonetheless, whoever Jacob spent the night with, the other 3 were left disappointed and heart broken. Although Jacob did help fulfill God’s promise via children, this dream life could have its nightmares. You be the judge.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 