Bible Study Online Article
Now the child bearing competition begins to heat up and the score between the two sisters is now four to two in Leah's favor. For goodness sake it's amazing how we would allow our quest for bragging rights and of good reputation in order to please the vanity and foolishness of the world. Here comes Leah, feeling that her lead is now slipping, which causes her to start feeling the pressure. She is so determined to keep her child bearing lead over her sister Rachel that it causes her to fall into a desperation state of mind. Leah totally disregard the fact that Rachel as of yet has no children of her own and so therefore why the pressure or concern? She also puts aside the fact that regardless of Rachel does from this point on when it comes to child bearing; it doesn't matter because she also holds the propriety advantage as well, being that her children came directly from her and not some other. Being that at this point in her life she had not bore Jacob any children in about a year, she begins to panic. So for her quest to hold that prestige honor within that household she decides to give her maidservant over Jacob. If we were to look at this situation from Leah's perspective, we could easily see how she might feel this way. After all Jacob did not want her to begin with, he loved Rachel with all his heart. Leah would also feel very insecure around Rachel for she could not compete with her sister's beauty. The only thing that she felt like she had the advantage in when it came to the two of them was child bearing. But now Leah begins to think that she is now barren being that she had not conceived a child for Jacob within over a year. Blinded by her pride and insecurities she fails to trust the Lord, for if she had more faith, she would eventually see that God had already given her the highest honors when it came to the House of Jacob. God had given her the privilege to be the mother of Jacob's first born - Reuben. This would be a blessing in which she would see immediate benefits. Her third child, who was Levi, would be the founder of the Levites. According to the Bible this is the tribe that all Israelite priests would eventually come from. Her fourth child, who was Judah, would be the founder of the Kingdom of Judah. This tribe is the one that our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ would eventually come from. That itself in my opinion is the highest honor that could bestowed upon a mother. Well, unless you're Mary the Mother of Jesus. Not knowing what she already has, she becomes snared by the competition child bearing trap and she decides to give her maidservant Zilpah over to Jacob, so that she can become his wife as well. Jacob would accept Zilpah and consummate their marriage and by doing so his new wife would become pregnant. Zilpah would bear Jacob a son which would be Jacob seventh in which Leah named him Gad. This is in response to her emotions at the time for the name Gad means (good luck cometh) Leah is from the same area that Abraham was from, which was the city -- Ur of the Chaldeans. As I once stated before, the Chaldeans were devout astrologers during Abraham's time. So it shouldn't surprise us that the name Gad is also the same name that the Arabians used in regards to the planet Jupiter by. Zilpah would bear her second son to Jacob which would make this his eighth son in total. Once again Leah blinded by her pride when it comes to the child bearing competition with Rachel names this child Asher which means (happy) "How happy I am! The women will call me blessed," Leah would say in excitement. Start at: The Introduction of Abraham Start at: The Birth of Isaac Start at: The Birth of Esau & Jacob 43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 44) Jacob - The Stone Pillow Dream 46) Jacob - The Love Season of Reaping 49) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 50) The Mandrake Plant of Love  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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