The World's Aphrodisiac

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE WORLD'S APHRODISIAC

Gen 30:14-21

14 During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes." 15 But she said to her, "Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son's mandrakes too?" "Very well," Rachel said, "he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son's mandrakes." 16 So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. "You must sleep with me," she said. "I have hired you with my son's mandrakes." So he slept with her that night. 17 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Then Leah said, "God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband." So she named him Issachar.   19 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 Then Leah said, "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons." So she named him Zebulun.   21 Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

NIV

What was so special about the mandrake plant that Rachel would agree to let Leah sleep with Jacob just to have some of them? Ancient lore exists about mandrakes, but we do not know whether that lore predates Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. However, it is thought the mandrake plant serves as an aphrodisiac and has other medicinal properties related to fertility. This may be why Rachel wanted those mandrake plants, as she was still barren at this point. Once again, this is a lesson in looking to the ways of the world to meet our needs, rather than seeking the face of the LORD. Rachel would have done well to look to the LORD for her fertility program. Of course, we know that because of the hindsight we have regarding the LORD remembering her and opening her womb so she would conceive. Her life was in the LORD's hands. Rachel showed up at the precise time at the well, when Jacob was there. For Rachel, he agreed to work seven years, then seven more years. She should have known the LORD was with her, and would take care of her. But she looked to the worldview, wanting mandrakes to possibly increase her ability to conceive, because of some ancient lore, or myth about them. How often do we Christians take on a worldview about certain things we want to achieve rather than seeking the face of God? It comes down to who we trust about important issues in life. Yet, this situation over the mandrakes is still by the hand of God because Leah bore two more, her sixth, but in total the ninth and tenth sons of Jacob, Issachar and Zebulun. We should know that the Lord is always in charge and has all authority over our lives. When we try to take that authority, the mistakes of our lives show up. Let us yield that old self to the power and authority of the Lord; then we will live according to his will and purpose, and we will not need the aphrodisiac effect of this world. 

Taking the Place of God

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

TAKING THE PLACE OF GOD

Gen 30:1-13

30:1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!" 2 Jacob became angry with her and said, "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?" 3 Then she said, "Here is Bilhah, my maidservant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and that through her I too can build a family." 4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, 5 and she became pregnant and bore him a son. 6 Then Rachel said, "God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son." Because of this she named him Dan.   7 Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, "I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won." So she named him Naphtali.   9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, "What good fortune!" So she named him Gad.   12 Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." So she named him Asher.  

NIV

There are now eight of Jacob's twelve sons, born through Leah, her maidservant Zilpah, and Rachel's maidservant Bilbah. This was common practice at the time, as we also saw Sarah give her maidservant Hagar to Abraham as a wife. We should not judge people's past practices by the standards we hold ourselves to. However, some factions of Mormonism consider polygamy acceptable. Nevertheless, our story is not about the number of wives and sons, but about Jacob's response to Rachel's anger about being barren. He said, "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you  from having children?" There is the major truth of our lives. We will never be, nor should we ever consider that we would ever be, in the place of God. However, we wonder whether, when we make our own decisions or choices about our lives, we are trying to take God's place. He is sovereign in all things regarding our lives. He kept Rachel barren until it was time for her to give birth to Joseph and, much later, to Benjamin. Still, we must follow the leading of our sovereign Lord and understand that he controls our lives. We are who we are because he knit us in our mother's womb. He decided who we would be, who our parents would be, and what plan he had and continues to have for our lives. When we want that control, then we are, in essence, saying that we want to take the place of God. When we say God gives us the desire of our hearts, are we saying that whatever we desire, God has obligated himself to give it to us? That still seems like we are trying to take his place by deciding what he is supposed to give us. Should not our desire be him? Should we not desire more of him? When we quote the Psalmist, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart," we wonder, as we look at the Hebrew word translated as "give," that it is also used as "put." So then it could be that as we delight ourselves in the Lord, he will put the desire in our heart. We know every translation uses "give," and the Lord indeed gives us so much, but should it not all come to us while we delight ourselves in the Lord? When we delight ourselves in the Lord, it becomes clear that we could never think we could take God's place, for then we would delight in ourselves and give ourselves the desires of our hearts. 

The Hand of God

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE HAND OF GOD

 

Gen 29:31-35

31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." 33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.   34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." So he was named Levi.   35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

NIV

Why would Jacob not love Leah? After all, he was intimate with her regularly. She was his wife, although we are told that Rachel was the more beautiful of the two, and Jacob loved her. He met her first and wanted only her as his wife, yet now he has both as wives, and the LORD is blessing him with sons through Leah. His first four sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Interestingly, two of Israel's great tribes came through Leah. First, the line of Levitical priests came through Leah. Levi's descendants included Moses and his brother Aaron, the first of the priestly line. Levi's line also included Eli, the priest in Shiloh, and Ezra, who wrote the first post-captivity book. This was not by chance that Leah was Jacob's wife; it was by the hand of God. One of the greatest reasons is that she bore Judah. We know who the Lion of Judah is: our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Of course, through Judah came David, whose sons were Solomon and Nathan. Joseph came through Solomon's line, but Mary came through Nathan's; both descended from Judah. This story shows that God's hand is always at work to bring about his will for his creation. He still has more to do in Jacob's life, including through his son Joseph, who will bring about so much in the lives of the Israelites, which again demonstrates God's hand at work. We should know by now that God's hand is at work in our lives. He has, and is continuing to, bring about his will for our lives. He is working in us, and through us, to accomplish his plan for his people. If we think we are not important in God's grand plan and purpose, we are sadly mistaken. He calls each of us to be part of the body of Christ, the church. He poured out the Holy Spirit on all of us and bestows his gifts on each of us according to his pleasure. None of us are left out; we all have received something from the hand of God. We are all part of his plan and purpose for those who are called by his name. Let us live with that knowledge. Let us live out the fullness of his hand at work within us. 

Years Seem Like Days

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

YEARS SEEM LIKE DAYS

Gen 29:14-30

After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, 15 Laban said to him, "Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be." 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel." 19 Laban said, "It's better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me." 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to lie with her." 22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. 24 And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter as her maidservant. 25 When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?" 26 Laban replied, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work." 28 And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 Laban gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant. 30 Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.

NIV

We could see that Jacob was deceived by Laban as payback for deceiving his brother and father out of the birthright. But that is not the truth we should focus on. Jacob had been there a month, not as a guest, but already working for Laban's benefit. They agreed on wages: seven years of labor, then he could take Rachel as his wife. Although when the time came, Leah was given, Laban's deception was complete. But the story is about those first seven years. Because he loved Rachel, those seven years seemed like only a few days. There are two aspects to consider. First, because of the great love we share within the bonds of marriage, fifty-plus years can feel like only a few days. Although we have so many memories, some seem like a lifetime ago, yet at the same time we cannot help but think it was just yesterday that we saw each other for the first time and knew we had to be together; and now it is today. What happened? Years seemed like days. The second way we can see the same way of looking at time is in our relationship with Jesus. It was just the other day in our younger life that we accepted him as our Lord and Savior. Now that younger life has become our older life as time has marched on, it only seems like a few days because of our love for him compared to the eternity we will spend with him. Love is at the center of our relationships with others and with our Lord. Without love, we are nothing but a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Jacob loved Rachel. We love each other. We love Jesus. Time has no meaning in the kingdom of heaven. A day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. That is how it is within the love of a husband and wife, and that is how it is within the love between Jesus and us. 

Exact Time and Place

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

EXACT TIME AND PLACE

Gen 29:1-14

29:1 Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. 2 There he saw a well in the field, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone over the mouth of the well was large. 3 When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. 4 Jacob asked the shepherds, "My brothers, where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they replied. 5 He said to them, "Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?" "Yes, we know him," they answered. 6 Then Jacob asked them, "Is he well?" "Yes, he is," they said, "and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep." 7 "Look," he said, "the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture." 8 "We can't," they replied, "until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep." 9 While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and Laban's sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle's sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud. 12 He had told Rachel that he was a relative of her father and a son of Rebekah. So she ran and told her father. 13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. 14 Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood."

NIV

And so it began: boy meets girl, falls head over heels the moment he sees her, and the rest is history. Jacob had asked the LORD to watch over his journey, that if the LORD would provide him with food and clothing, that his journey, his task, would be successful, that he might return safely to his father's house. Jacob had set up a pillar representing the house of God. Now he had reached his desired destination, the one his father told him to go to, the family of his mother. As Jacob asked whether this was where Laban lived, his younger daughter Rachel appeared, and Jacob was overwhelmed by her presence. We are confident the kiss was not romantic in nature, but a cultural custom of sorts, as he also wept aloud with joy that he was where he was supposed to be, and this was where he was to find a wife, whom he had just met. Although this is the story of Jacob, Laban, Rachel, and Leah, our truth for today is about being in the right place God has directed us to. Jacob was overjoyed to have arrived at the exact place God had directed him to. First, by his father Isaac's direction; second, and most importantly, by God's direction and guidance. We need to know we are in the exact place, at the precise time, by God's will. We must know that he has first laid out our path before us and, second, has directed and guided us on that path to where he wants us to be. Sometimes we may feel wanderlust, thinking about places that would be so great to be in; however, that would mean following our own path, which could lead us away from God's will. Jacob was overjoyed, overwhelmed to the point of weeping out loud because he was at the exact place, at the precise time, as God had directed his path. That is the joy we should live with: knowing God has directed our path to be exactly where we are, at the perfect time in our lives, doing exactly what we are supposed to do.  Why would we want to try to live by our design when God has laid out the perfect design for us? Jacob was now where he would shine, and through Rachel and Leah and their handmaids would father twelve sons, one of whom would be the line through which Jesus would come. Everything was going according to God's plan. That is the story of our lives; we should know everything is going according to God's plan. The exact place and perfect time according to his plan. 

An Awesome Place

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

AN AWESOME PLACE

Gen 28:16-22

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." 17 He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." 18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD  will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

NIV

When Jacob woke and realized he had seen a ladder going up to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and that he had heard the voice of Yahweh, he was convinced Yahweh was in this place. He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place!" Jacob had more to say about that place, but first, this should give us a clue about how we should think about any place where we experience God. However, Jacob considered that place nothing other than the house of God and the gate to heaven. Should we not think of our gathering place, the church, as the house of God? Should we not consider it an awesome place? When we gather to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, do we consider that we are standing at the gate to heaven? We should wonder whether we should be more in awe as we enter the sanctuary of the house of God. It may not be appropriate to chit-chat about various personal topics, or even laugh at times. Maybe we should enter the house of God in awe of that place, and as we enter the sanctuary, we should reflect that we are at a gate to heaven. When we sing those words that surely the Lord is in this place, shouldn't we be just a bit in awe, in reverence, almost afraid because we stand in the presence of the LORD? Sometimes, we see God as the God of love, instead of the Almighty God of heaven and earth. Instead, we should stand with a certain fear of the LORD, for as we know, that is the beginning of wisdom. Jacob responded, knowing the LORD would provide him with food and clothing and that he would give back a tenth to the LORD. We are not sure how that would work in Jacob's time, how the tenth would reach the LORD. Some churches today use the tenth to support various expenses and ministries within the church. However, the point we should ponder more is how awesome the place is where the presence of the LORD resides, where the Spirit of the LORD is. We should enter His gate with thanksgiving in our hearts and enter His courts with praise. What an awesome place that is. 

Fulfilled Promise

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

FULFILLED PROMISE

Gen 28:10-15

10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

NIV

Do these truths only apply to Jacob, or can we take that promise of the LORD personally? He is still the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob. Because Jesus came through this lineage, all the peoples on earth, which includes us, are blessed through Jacob's offspring, meaning Jesus. Is there any blessing greater than Jesus? How could we live with peace in our hearts if it were not because of Jesus? How could we experience eternal life without Jesus? If Jesus had not paid the price for us, going to the cross in our place, we would be stuck here on earth until the time when the fiery furnace awaited us. The LORD's promise to Jacob has already come true; in fact, in the realm of heaven, all things have already come true. That truth is beyond our full understanding; nevertheless, it is still true. However, that means whatever the LORD promises will always happen, because it has, because with God there is no time. We are the only ones who are created by God who live under the constraints of time. The LORD promised Jacob that he would bring him back to this land and that he would not leave him until the LORD had done what he had promised him. Jesus promised us that he would come back for us and take us back to the place we should be, where he is, and that he would never leave nor forsake us until he has done all that he promised us. Because he promised we will be with him, we will never be without Jesus. We can now live in perfect peace knowing Jesus is always with us. The LORD always fulfills his promise. Jesus is God's fulfilled promise.