Genesis 30:19–24 (ESV)
Jacob’s Children (Part 5)
19 And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor
me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. 21 Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.
22 Then
God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 And
she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the Lord add to me another son!”
To summarize
the last several days of going through the Jerry Springer Show… or Jacob’s children, The Lutheran Study Bibles states:
As Leah and Rachel contend with each other regarding childbearing and
Jacob’s affection, they degrade the marriage relationship. As the sole giver of all good gifts, the Lord finally grants Rachel a child and thus removes her reproach (30:23). In many cases, modern technology allows people to turn God’s gift of childbearing
into a product they can obtain or refuse at will. Such manipulative attitudes are as old as Leah and Rachel. As Jacob suggests (30:2), we cannot stand in the place of God in these matters, but we must entrust them to His wisdom. In any case, the Lord has given
us a child—His only-begotten Son (Is 9:6–7)—to save us and bring salvation to the world.
I pray: Lord, grant
us patience and trust in matters beyond our control. Bless marriages and families with Your forgiving love. Amen.
Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The
Lutheran Study Bible (p. 63). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.