Mandrakes

Nov. 2

Read: Genesis 30:1-23

Mandrakes

Envy will always destroy relationship and harmony. To be envious is to be unable to celebrate or enjoy another person’s success or prosperity. This is how Rachel feels towards her sister Leah; “When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister.” (v.1) Imagine all of the blessings and advantages that Rachel held, and yet what she set her eyes on was simply what she did not have. It was so consuming to her that she thought she would “die” because of it! It wasn’t enough for her that she was the most beautiful and that she held the attention and heart of Jacob… she needed to have it ALL.

Rachel comes after Jacob demanding that he give her children… something that is out of his control. This is Jacob’s response:

“Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” (v.2)

Jacob rightly places God at the center of the issue, but it also “angers” him against Rachel. The truth is that unchecked envy will actually rob us of the gifts that we already have. What did Rachel hold over Leah if it wasn’t the affection of Jacob? Her envy of Leah was leading her to act in a way that jeopardized the very gift that she already held! Rachel wanted what Leah had (children) and Leah wanted what Rachel had (the affection of Jacob). Neither was content in the blessings that God had given them and the end result was discord and tension within their relationships.

It is hard to accept the limitations God places on us, and sometimes even harder to appreciate his blessings! (v.2) We are so prone to envy and jealousy. Look at how envy breaks apart the relationship between two sisters. Rachel takes matters into her own hands, and gives her handmade Bilhah to Jacob as his wife. Even in a purely mathematical sense, Rachel dilutes Jacob’s attention and energy for her with another woman in an effort to get what she wants… her envy leads her to squander and lose some of her God-given “blessing” and advantage.

Why is it that Rachel was willing to see the children that came from a slave as her own and be satisfied by them moreso than the children that were coming from her very own sister!?! Maybe she felt she could control them more? (There were cultural norms at the time that said Rachel had control over the kids that came about from her handmade.) Rachel would rather have relationships determined by cultural / legal guidelines than by relationships rooted in familial love! Notice the way that Rachel even names her children around “judgement” and “wrestling”… the way that she sees her sister as an adversary to be defeated and not a family member to be cared for. (v.6,8) She was a terrible aunt!

The precious relationships in your life will be poisoned and sabotaged by unchecked envy. You will begin to view others as adversaries to be conquered and people to be controlled… even in the closest relationships in your life (including your family). Rachel will continue on in this way… constantly wanting what Leah has. She will again trade her “blessing” (Jacob) away for the fleeting high of eating Leah’s mandrakes! (This is some ancient bible drug dealing here! LOL) This will result in Leah having even more children with Jacob… making Rachel even more envious. Envy is a never ending cycle that just gets worse and worse as it goes. Is there any hope for Rachel?

“Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!” (v.22-24)

At the risk of sounding too cliche’ - ONLY GOD CAN CURE US OF OUR ENVY. God did not forget about Rachel. Despite all of her meddling, conniving, and bitterness, God does not leave her to be devoured by her discontent. He “remembered” her. Something else we see here is that he “listened to her”. Somewhere along the way, Rachel began talking to God about her troubles and telling him about her pain. Maybe she even complained to God in her envy and angrily accused him. Whatever the tone was, Rachel began talking to God and God listened. God opened Rachel’s womb and sent her a son of her own… his name was Joseph. (v.22) God had “taken away her reproach”.

There is great hope for us when we simply turn to God and begin to talk to him. There is far more life, blessing, and hope to be had in talking to the Lord then there is in our own meddling and conniving. Our envy brings broken relationship and the squandering of what we do have, and conversation with the Lord brings healing, restoration, and the satisfaction of our deepest needs. God did not forget Rachel and he HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU. May the Lord give us eyes to see our blessings, remove envy from our hearts, and draw us to him. May God restore harmony to our relationships with one another and more importantly with HIM. Love you guys. - JDP