THE STRESS OF BARRENNESS
Text: Genesis 30:1-24
11 September 2012
(I) THE STRESS OF BARRENNESS
1. Stress felt by Rachel
“Give me children, or else I die” Genesis 30:1b
a) Barrenness
b) Envy
2. Tension between Rachel and Jacob
Jacob’s anger aroused towards Rachel (Genesis 30:2a)
His retort
“Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of your womb?” Genesis 30:2b
(II) SURROGATE MOTHERHOOD
1. Rachel offers Bilhah her maid
a) As a wife (Genesis 30:4)
b) As a surrogate mother
“That I also may have children by her” Genesis 30:3c
2. Bilhah’s children
a) Dan (Genesis 30:6a) (Judge)
b) Naphthali (Genesis 30:8) (Wrestling)
3. Leah offers Zilpah her maid
a) As a wife (Genesis 30:9)
b) As a surrogate mother
“When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing” Genesis 30:9
4. Zilpah’s children
a) Gad (Genesis 30:11) (a troop or fortune)
b) Asher (Genesis 30:11) (happy)
5. Leah bears children again
a) Issachar (Genesis 30:18) (wages)
b) Zebulun (Genesis 30:20) (dwelling)
c) Dinah (Genesis 30: 21) (judgment)
6. Rachel finally bears a son
Joseph (Genesis 30:24)
(III) SUMMARY OF THE CHILDREN OF JACOB
From Leah
1. Reuben (Genesis 29:32) (See, a son)
2. Simeon (Genesis 29:33) (Heard)
3. Levi (Genesis 29:34) (Attachment)
4. Judah (Genesis 29:35) (Praise)
From Bilhah (Rachel’s Maid)
5. Dan (Genesis 30:6) (Judge)
6. Naphthali (Genesis 30:8) (Wrestling)
From Zilpah (Leah’s Maid)
7. Gad (Genesis 30:11) (troop/ fortune)
8. Asher (Genesis 30:13) (happy/ blessed)
From Leah
9. Issachar (Genesis 30:17) (wages)
10. Zebulun (Genesis 30:20) (Dwelling)
11. Dinah (Genesis 30:21) (Judgment)
From Rachel
12. Joseph (Genesis 30:24) (Add)