Read: Genesis 30-31
Focus Verse: “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!’” (Genesis 30:1).
Devotion: Sibling rivalry is real! And now Leah and Rachel’s rivalry parallels that of Jacob and Easu. First, Leah has children to win Jacob’s love (29:31-35), and even though it doesn’t work Rachel gets jealous that she isn’t having children to compete. So she competes with who can have more babies… (30:8) Are you kidding me!? Leah always knew Jacob loved Rachel more (30:15, 30:19), but both are still competing. Like Leah sells herself so she can sleep with Jacob in hopes of having another baby! (30:16) Talk about a messed up family! She thinks more kids equals more love, or she’ll beat Rachel, and Rachel is insecure that she has no kids even though we’re constantly told here that Jacob loves her more. I think the takeaway here is, where do you find love and worth? Both sisters are seeking the love of a man, or of their husband Jacob, they long so desperately to be loved by him. Even today the struggle is to seek love externally not internally. These women are stressing themselves out and ruining their sisterhood bond and friendship because of insecurity that leads them to compete with one another for someone else’s love. I wonder if Jacob would have ended up with 12 children if the two of them found love from within… The question is, where do you seek love?
Pray: LORD I pray that my heart would be set on You, and only You. God help me to find love from within myself and from You. Only then can I truly begin to love others as I love myself. Amen.
Additional Scripture: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)