One of the best aspects of God’s word is the willingness of the Holy Spirit to reveal the faults of His people as well as their positive attributes. This helps us greatly, as we do not improperly elevate the efforts of men, knowing they are subject to frailties and sin as are we.
Because of this, the emphasis of salvation by grace has value for us as does the realization that the imperfection of all men preclude salvation by merit. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
These things are born out by the imperfections of Adam, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s children, Moses, Samson, Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, and a host of others throughout the Old Testament. They were all great men, to be honored and respected, but that is all they were — men. Subject to the same failures and mistakes that trouble us all.
One example of this that I recently read was the competition for children that occurred between Rachel and her older sister Leah. There are many lessons that can be taught about this: the problems with polygamy; some pitfalls that can occur in the way sisters treat one another; the destructive and deceitful nature of Laban, Jacob’s father-in-law; and what should be recognized as a faulty measure of womanhood that requires children. But, the preeminent thing that is seen in the relationship between Rachel and Leah was envy!
The first problem was seen in the fact that Leah was unloved. Jacob loved Rachel, and he intended to marry her and her alone. However, Laban manipulated the situation to give Leah as Jacob’s wife first. Jacob did not want this, so Laban gave Rachel to him immediately. Jacob was given two wives, and only wanted Rachel. The text reveals, “When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31).
Leah conceived and gave birth to Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. So, four children while Rachel had none. Notice how Rachel reacted, “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or else I die!’” (Genesis 30:1). Her envy led to many problems, including inciting anger in her husband, “And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, ‘Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?’” (Genesis 30:2).
It also led to the problems of polygamy, as Rachel gave her maid Bilhah as a wife to Jacob, to gain children by her. Bilhah bore Dan and Naphtali. Her envy and unhealthy attitude toward her sister is revealed in the names Rachel gave to these two. Dan — “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” (30:6). Naphtali — “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” (30:8).
Consider how this affected Leah. Rachel had Jacob’s favor, and now she had children as well. The best way to “turn the tables” was for her to have more children, but she had quit bearing. So, she also gave her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob as a wife. So, now though the wives were very unequal, Jacob had four of them. Zilpah bore Gad and Asher. Then, through a competition involving mandrakes, again with her sister, Leah won Jacob’s physical affections for a night and conceived and bore Issachar and then Zebulun. So, Leah was winning (in the eyes of both sisters) by having borne six sons, and two others by Zilpah.
Finally, we are told that God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore Joseph. His name was chosen, as Rachel again referenced the competition with her sister, “God has taken away my reproach.” (30:23). She was promised even another who she conceived at a later time, and in bearing him lost her own life. “And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin” (Genesis 35:18).
The problems continued as Jacob (Israel) had Joseph and Benjamin as his favorites, no doubt because of his greater affection for their mother. It impacted his dealing with his brother Esau when he met him, and his great grief at his supposed “loss” of Joseph, and the threat of his loss of Benjamin.
What matters, as Joseph told his brothers later, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). Indeed, the entire ugliness between Rachel, Leah and Jacob led to the fulfillment of His initial promise to Abraham, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great” (Genesis 12:2).
The major point is this. The people found in the Old Testament, as well as the New, are people like us. They do some bad things, and some good things. We should learn from both! Consider these verses:
“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” (Philippians 3:17).
Both the mistakes and the victories of men and women are reachable for us today. These are not myths or allegories, they were people who imperfectly sought to serve God. Many were able to overcome their mistakes and please Him. By learning from their example, may we do so as well!
