Before we wrap up the account of the two men trying to out-cheat each other, it’s always intriguing to look at what must be the most dysfunctional blended family ever. By contrast, we sat down to dinner a few days ago with a delightful family with six children, ranging in age from 16 down to 6. All well-behaved, but still…a lot of kids! I reminded them of Jacob…

We left Jacob having just married Leah, instead of Rachel, then Rachel one week later. Leah has four sons:

When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing. (Genesis 29.31 – 35, ESV)

Continuing into chapter 30, Rachel pulls the handmaid trick (compare Sarah and Hagar, Genesis 16), and Bilhah has two sons: Dan and Naphtali. Two can play this game, so Leah sends in her handmaid, and Zilpah produces two more sons: Gad and Asher. Then Leah has two more sons, one involving wifely rivalry and mandrakes(!): Issachar and Zebulun. (See Genesis 30.1 – 18).

Finally, Rachel:

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!” (Genesis 30.22 – 24, ESV)

I find it fascinating that after waiting so many years for a son, Rachel doesn’t give thanks, she asks for another! We’re never satisfied, are we?

But back to Jacob, at this point he has 11 sons by four different women. That had to be an interesting household! And the problems will continue, as we’ll see soon.

If you have relational challenges inside or outside your family, it’s good to remember that there’s most likely someone in the Bible who went through worse than you!

Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse. (Proverbs 21.19, MSG – But Jacob did live in a tent in the wild AND with four sometimes cross and petulant spouses!)

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133.1, ESV)