Gleam of morning of 29/10/2016 : Polygamy and jealousy - By Paul Calzada

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"When Rachel saw that she gave Jacob no children, she envied her sister" (Genesis 30.1).

 

Chapter 30 of the Book of Genesis, explains how, on background of rivalry between the two wives of Jacob, has made the people of Israel.
This story, if necessary, said the tensions that arise in a polygamous family.
If Jacob is polygamous not because he wanted was due to the trap that handed him his stepfather. He is polygamous despite himself. We can not justify polygamy from this story, or from other texts of the Bible. Polygamy is not the original plan willed by God. At the beginning it was not so remember Jesus : "The man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Matthew 19.4 / 8).

Seeing the tensions arising from the jealousy between the two wives, this story highlights the merits of monogamy and marital fidelity.
What voluntary involvement or not have Leah and Rachel in this deception ? Laban he imposed a form of absolute authority, his will to his two daughters ? Did he held captive Rachel and Leah imposed to deceive Jacob ? How much custom alluded Laban was it effective ? Here are many questions we are unable to respond. What is certain is that the lie which has engaged Leah has not helped Jacob to love. Love is not built on lies !

Anyway, Jacob loved Rachel, but it was sterile. This sterility will exacerbate the frustration of Rachel and generate false hope among Leah, hoping to trigger the affection of her husband. But Jacob still loved Rachel. And Leah was unfortunate, because if she had children, she did not love, but Rachel was not happy, because if she had Jacob's love she had no children ! What a sad situation !

Their rivalry will continue through their servants, which they impose to have children in their place. This practice of using young maids (often slaves of their master), as a means to overcome the sterility was a common practice in the Middle East in those days. This had been done long before Rachel, Sarah Abraham's wife.
Whether the custom alluded Laban (marriage before the elder the younger), or that used Rachel and Leah (surrogacy, proxy slave), these practices remind us that sometimes separate us from customs what God wants, "You transgress the commandment of God by your tradition (or custom)" Jesus said (Matthew 15.3).

My prayer on this day :

Lord, I keep myself to religious or cultural traditions before your Word, to build my life on the truth. Amen !

Paul Calzada