Genesis 30

Theme of Genesis 30

Rivalry, God’s blessing, and Jacob’s prosperity

Who was Jacob

Husband of Rachel and Leah

Who was Rachel

Jacob’s beloved wife

Who was Leah

Jacob’s first wife

Who was Bilhah

Rachel’s servant

Who was Zilpah

Leah’s servant

Who was Reuben

Leah’s eldest son

Who was Laban

Jacob’s father-in-law

Who was Joseph

Rachel’s first son

Who was Dinah

Jacob’s daughter

Family tree

Abraham + Sarah → Isaac + Rebekah → Jacob → Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, Zilpah and their children

Leah’s children

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah

Rachel’s child

Joseph (later Benjamin)

Bilhah’s children

Dan and Naphtali

Zilpah’s children

Gad and Asher

What problem did Rachel face

She could not have children

What did Rachel say

“Give me children, or I will die!”

What did Jacob reply

Only God can give children

What plan did Rachel make

Gave Bilhah to Jacob

Who were Bilhah’s sons

Dan and Naphtali

Meaning of Dan

God has judged in my favour

Meaning of Naphtali

I have fought with my sister and won

What did Leah do when she stopped having children

Gave Zilpah to Jacob

Who were Zilpah’s sons

Gad and Asher

Meaning of Gad

I have been lucky

Meaning of Asher

I am happy

Similar earlier event

Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham

Who found mandrakes

Reuben

What were mandrakes

Plants believed to increase fertility

Who wanted the mandrakes

Rachel

Leah’s complaint

Rachel had already taken her husband

What deal was made

Mandrakes in exchange for a night with Jacob

What happened after

God answered Leah’s prayer

Who was Leah’s fifth son

Issachar

Meaning of Issachar

God has rewarded me

Who was Leah’s sixth son

Zebulun

Meaning of Zebulun

Honor

Who was Dinah

Jacob’s daughter

What does “God remembered Rachel” mean

God answered her prayer

Who was Rachel’s first son

Joseph

Meaning of Joseph

May the LORD give me another son

Why is Joseph important

He later saves his family and rises in Egypt

What did Jacob ask after Joseph’s birth

Permission to return home

What did Jacob remind Laban

He served faithfully and brought blessing

What did Laban admit

God blessed him because of Jacob

What payment system did Jacob propose

Spotted, speckled goats and black sheep

What did Laban do

Removed many of those animals

What was Laban’s pattern

Continued deception

What method did Jacob use

Placed striped branches near mating animals

What animals resulted

Speckled, spotted, streaked

What separation did Jacob make

Strong animals separated from weak

What was the result

Jacob became very wealthy

What did Jacob gain

Flocks, servants, camels, and donkeys

Who was truly responsible for success

God

Order: first event

Rachel becomes jealous

Order: second event

Bilhah has Dan

Order: third event

Bilhah has Naphtali

Order: fourth event

Zilpah has Gad

Order: fifth event

Zilpah has Asher

Order: sixth event

Reuben finds mandrakes

Order: seventh event

Issachar is born

Order: eighth event

Zebulun is born

Order: ninth event

Dinah is born

Order: tenth event

Joseph is born

Order: eleventh event

Jacob asks to leave

Order: twelfth event

New wages agreed

Order: thirteenth event

Laban removes animals

Order: final event

Jacob becomes wealthy

How many children so far

11 sons and 1 daughter

Missing son

Benjamin (born later)

Lesson about jealousy

It creates conflict

Lesson about children

They are a gift from God

Lesson about prayer

God hears Leah and Rachel

Lesson about schemes

God works despite human plans

Lesson about provision

God blesses His people

Rachel’s qualities

Persistent but jealous

Leah’s qualities

Thankful but competitive

Jacob’s qualities

Hard-working but used unusual methods

Laban’s qualities

Recognized God but deceptive

Bilhah’s qualities

Faithful servant

Zilpah’s qualities

Faithful servant

Rachel’s quote

“Give me children, or I will die!”

Jacob’s quote

“Am I in the place of God?”

God’s action

God remembered Rachel

Laban’s quote

“The LORD has blessed me because of you.”

Rachel’s joy

“God has taken away my disgrace.”