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life this is! It was not only characteristic of Jacob personally, but typical of us representatively. Jacob failed
to rise to the level of God’s grace and was filled with fear instead of peace, and expressed human legality by
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speaking of what he would do! Oh, how often we follow in his steps!” By not including a paragraph of
explanation addressed to his readers, Moses leaves us to consider for ourselves, asking, “How do you think
God operates?”

Jacob’s next test occurs at his uncle’s. After a month, Jacob asks to marry the younger of Laban’s two
daughters, beautiful Rachel. He loves her and has worked for seven years to marry her. On the wedding
night, a switch is pulled. In the morning, Jacob finds himself in bed with Laban’s eldest daughter, Leah, who
is decidedly less attractive. The trick is explained as a local custom. The oldest daughter must be married
first. Jacob is offered Rachel as a second wife for seven more years of labor. Has the deceiver learned
anything from being deceived (29:1-30)?

Now we are treated to a lengthy description of more sibling rivalry with God again in the middle. Leah and
Rachael eventually have twelve children, including those born to their maidservants. Both women express a
degree of faith in God, mentioning him in connection with
the birth of some of their children. They contrast powerfully
with the shallow Jacob, who can only manage, “Am I in place
of God, who has kept you from having children (30:2)? Yet
the people involved use a variety of strategies to get what
they want. One scheme uses mandrakes, attributing sensual
desire and aid in conception to this plant. Leah, Rachael,
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and at least one son, Reuben, believe in the magical
properties of the plant. It is traded to the childless Rachael by
Leah in exchange for a night in their husband’s bed. Do they
Fig. 18. Mandrake roots often resemble believe they can manipulate God through magic? Moses tells
the human body and cause us that God “listened to Leah” (30:17) and “remembered
h ll Rachel” (30:22). Who is deceiving, and who is being deceived
or even self-deceived?

A similar question arises as Jacob tries to leave Laban. The father of Rachel and Leah has discovered “by
divination” that YHWH had blessed him because of Jacob. He does not want Jacob to leave. Jacob proposes
to stay based on the sharing of the flocks. He removes every spotted and speckled, and dark-colored lamb
or goat from the herd, leaving the solid-colored animals for Laban. All animals born in the future would be
divided in the same way. Here again, the deceiver has a
plan. He places in front of the animals' branches with
peeled bark, exposing the inner wood. Of course, by
some sympathetic magic, most animals are born
streaked, spotted, or speckled. What do you think? Can
Laban trick God into revealing his preference for Jacob?
Can Jacob trick animals into giving birth to only certain
colored offspring (30:25-43)?

Jacob must flee from his uncle. Taking his wives, children,
and animals, he leaves, deceiving Laban by not telling him
(31:20). At the same time, Rachel steals the household
gods (31:19). When Laban chases the crowd, God warns
Fig. 19: Typical Canaanite god

39 Arthur W. Pink, Gleanings in Genesis (Chicago: Moody Press, 1950), p. 252.

40 Jerry Falwell, ed., Liberty Bible Commentary (Lynchburg: Old-Time Gospel Hour, 1982), 1:77.
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