Genesis:
Well, this competition between Rachel and Leah is just more of the same sad junk Sarah and Hagar went through. I’m really glad that is not the norm in our culture. I can’t imagine being someone’s maid and them giving me to their husband and claiming my baby as their own…as if that’s okay. And I can’t imagine wanting the affection of a man who wants someone else. Abraham and Jacob and many other OT men would have been kicked to the curb in (most of) our culture. Laban is about like our stereo-typical car salesman.
What’s weird is that Leah accuses Rachel of taking her husband, merely because Leah married him first, when actually it was Rachel Jacob wanted first…and instead of calling Leah on that, she just…lets her sleep with him…in exchange for mandrakes. Yikes. I’m sure there is some deep cultural point I’m missing, because my own cultural standards are clouding my vision.
Job:
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God” // “If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’ And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find ?’ Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves, For wrath brings the punishment of the sword, So that you may know there is judgment.”
Also, I was thinking about how often “wells” are coming up. They fight over wells twice, and future wives are met at wells twice. Are wells the ancient equivalent of water coolers or clubs/bars? Was it so taboo for Jesus to talk to the Samaritan woman at the well because of its association with igniting relationships…or was it just generally speaking in public that was taboo? Maybe it was a double-wammy. Not yet, lucky for Isaac and Jacob.
Ichthus77 