Discuss Genesis 30

What did Jacob do to make the animals turn out the way that they did? vs. 25-43

Hello Murlon. According to the narrative on Laban in Genesis 31, it appears that he did practise idolatry, even as Terah, Abraham & Nachor also did ( Joshua 24:2). They lived in Ur of the Chaldees (now modern Iraq). In spite of their idolatrous ways & ignorance of the true God, God did reveal Himself to Abraham & called him to serve Him alone & be the father of many nations.

As also with Laban, who continued to practise idolatry, but was now accepting of this God who he was hearing about from Abraham's servant (likely Eliezer of Damascus), in his earlier encounter with him concerning Isaac ( Genesis 24:50,51). Whether Laban ultimately rejected his gods for the true God, we cannot say as the Bible doesn't indicate that; but in spite of him using divination ( Genesis 30:27, KJV: "experience" = 'nachash', or signs, divination), he acknowledged that Abraham's God had blessed him. He might have even added an image of God to his other gods, but hopefully in time & by revelation, he would have rejected his false gods.

Syncretism in religion (i.e. merging together of different beliefs & practises), is never an acceptable thing, even as practised today amongst so-called Christians, because God requires a true worship of Him, and Him alone. Abraham, by God's Call & revelation of Himself to him, would have learned to reject any other god or form of worship & to serve the True & Living God. Thus he was greatly blessed.

Yes I have several bibles!

Perry Sykes yes

It's not really fair to judge someone based on the definition of a name given before or at time of birth, before the person defines who they, themselves are by their life, actions, achievements etc. 1Chronicles 4:9-10, Genesis 10:25, Genesis 35:18, Neither is it Justice to define anyone by a name because someone has the same name. Please read these scriptures: 1Samuel 2:3, Genesis 25:25,26, Genesis 29:32, yet not exactly true, because Genesis 29:33, contadicts the previous name. Following Genesis 29:34,35,

Sometimes people live up to names given, is it because they've been called so? Genesis 27:36,

However sometimes a name is earned: Genesis 25:30, Genesis 30:13, Revelation 11:8, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 19:13, Revelation 17:14

Many times people in the Bible share name, yet are completely different. Especially 1611 KJV, on this site. Examples today many people have name like Jesus pronunciation different are not even close, or Angels names, that are far from. We should be careful to not be deceived even evil can appear as light, likewise many names have been made to deceive. 2Corinthians 11:13,14

There are divine names given by GOD however, those maybe we should take more notice of, :

Genesis 16:11,12, Genesis 11:29, + Genesis 17:5,15,19, Genesis 32:28, Genesis 35:10, Revelation 19:11,

Thanks for your question, for it did remind me of that. Genesis 5:2,

Hopefully these are helpful & give you intrigue into deeper study of names with scripture & reading GOD's WORD

Romans 5,

Here are scriptures for experience: Genesis 30:27, Ecclesiastes 1:16,

Teacher/ teach; Psalms 25:4,5,9,12, Psalms 32:8, Psalms 94:12, Proverbs 9, 1John 2:27, John 14:26, Proverbs 22:6,

Hopefully these are helpful

I have a rule myself to let the HOLY Spirit teach us as we read. 1 John 2:27, John 14:26,

Sometimes we have to work at "unlearning" what someone tells us the Bible says. GOD's WORD is a "living Word" it teaches, corrects, edifies._.. 2 Timothy 3:16, & gives us wisdom. James 1:5,

Genesis 34, is the account. Notice : Genesis 34:2, they were Hivite

Exodus 23:28, Exodus 34:11, Exodus 33:2, Genesis 10:15-19, Joshua 9,



Hopefully this is all helpful.

Thank you "GiGi" for pointing out her approximate age through scriptural knowledge. Genesis 30:19-31, Genesis 31:38-41,

Genesis 33:13-17, it says after they met Esau, they built a house & booths for cattle it doesn't say exactly how long they were there. It appears they may have left when Joseph was about 6 yrs. old because Genesis 31:41, But it was before Joseph was 17, Dinah seems to be older sister, they then pitched a tent._ Genesis 33:18-20 The only accounts of age we're given is Joseph was born & Genesis 30:25, Genesis 37:1-2, yet Joseph went to find his brethren in (Shechem) so was this timing, a historical account putting both situations about the same time? Genesis 37:11-14, because later Israel/Jacob tells Joseph about his mother's death & burial, that happened on Journey Genesis 35:1, Genesis 35:15-20, Genesis 35:27-29, Genesis 48:1-7, Genesis 45:25, Genesis 46:6,

Gigi Many have tried to figure out the mandrake deal, anytime in the old testament I see a situation where God tells a believer to do something that doesn't make sense its always revealed knowledge specific revelation to bless the individual and to achieve Gods Will same thing with the walls of Jericho, same thing with Elijah pouring water over a burn't sacrifice that God burn't up, these men believed what God said to do and got the results because they believed and did it. Things haven't changed in regards to what God will do for us when we believe and act on the information given. God doesn't change man does. It is walking by the spirit.

Well, this is just as interesting as the last chapter. yes, Jacob had sexual relationships with 4 women who were given to his household. He didn't go out of what was his to find more women. I think the problems between Rachel and Leah are expected. I was surprised for the bargaining Rachel and Leah did- mandrakes for a lay with Jacob. It must have been Rachels turn to have time with Jacob sexually. Leah's sons were old enough to provide some sustenance for the family. Rachel had not much as much leverage as Leah. Jacob didn't seem to object to the deal, even though he loved Rachel more than Leah, but he cared for both of the

Unlike Jacob and Esau where Jacob was the child of promise and Esau was not, all of Jacob's sons were equally children of the promise, even the children of the maids. God was fulfilling his promise of multiplying Abraham's seed by giving Jacob 12 sons and one daughter. That daughter had to be one tough cookie to grow up among twelve brothers! Notice that she did not have a tribe named after her.

I think that Jacob was told by God what to do with the flocks to ensure that his own would be built up far exceedingly to Laban's. He was not neglecting Laban's flocks at all, but living by the bargain made between them. I think Jacob was still learning how to hear God's voice and act on faith. So, perhaps the 'trick" with the branches was a test of faith.

On the other hand, being a shepherd, he may have known something that Laban did not know, as it was Rachel who shepherded Laban's flocks.

Either way, God was faithful and blessed Jacob and in the process of blessing him, God blessed Laban, too, and Laban noticed.

Hi T. Lewis What you stated is absolutely correct many times in the old and new testament men of God did or told others what to do to Get Gods results and they did not question they just did it. Noah was told to build an Ark because the earth was going to be flooded by rain and until that time there is no record of rain upon the earth also he was given specific instructions on how to build a boat. New testament Jesus Christ ask the disciples how are we going to feed over 5 thousand with a few loves of bread and fish then told the disciples what to do and God supplied the need. In our day and time when we dare to believe whats written or told to us and act we can have the same results. I know a women who stopped in the middle of a teaching prayed for her son who at that exact moment had a loaded gun in his mouth pulled the trigger and the bullet discharged and turned into powder, later on he called his mother about it and she told him she prayed at that time and the result was him being born again. Our Job is to Let Go and Let God Work!

Hi

I thought the rods were a switch from the wood of a certain tree that was known to affect lambing / birthing due to the substance it excreted into the water and the animals drank it

Hello Don. That's a great question that I have never been able to figure out. I had to resort to a commentary but confess that I still don't understand how placing these rods before the flocks could produce offspring of certain colouring. So I will copy Albert Barnes' comment on this for your consideration:

"Jacob devises means to provide himself with a flock in these unfavorable circumstances. His first device is to place party-colored rods before the eyes of the cattle at the rutting season, that they might drop lambs and kids varied with speckles, patches, or streaks of white. He had learned from experience that there is a congruence between the colors of the objects contemplated by the dams at that season and those of their young. At all events they bare many straked, speckled, and spotted lambs and kids. He now separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flock toward the young of the rare colors, doubtless to affect them in the same way as the pilled rods. "Put his own folds by themselves." These are the party-colored cattle that from time to time appeared in the flock of Laban.

In order to secure the stronger cattle, Jacob added the second device of employing the party-colored rods only when the strong cattle conceived. The sheep in the East lamb twice a year, and it is supposed that the lambs dropped in autumn are stronger than those dropped in the spring. On this supposition Jacob used his artifice in the spring, and not in the autumn. It is probable, however, that he made his experiments on the healthy and vigorous cattle, without reference to the season of the year. The result is here stated. "The man brake forth exceedingly" - became rapidly rich in hands and cattle."

I hope this helps you somewhat - I'm still unsure how this could work & just accept this account as given.

I've wondered that too. GOD directs some people to do out of the ordinary things & out of the ordinary things happen when they've done what GOD directed them to do. I think we're thinking too much into it like 'if we tried it will it work' here's some other examples

Exodus 17:6, Numbers 20:1-11, notice Numbers 20:8 GOD said "speak to the rock" , Numbers 20:12, Numbers 13 & 14,

Genesis 31:12,

Hi Don It had nothing to do with what he fed them it had everything to do with following Gods instructions and seeing the results. It is a great example of receiving information or instruction from God its like when the children of Israel marched around Jericho seven times then blew trumpets and down came a wall. By the five senses natural mind it doesn't make senses but they followed the man of Gods instructions and got Gods deliverance. Throughout Gods word when people listened to men of God believed and acted they always got deliverance. When the man of God Elisha in 2 Kings 4:1-7 ask a widow what can I do for you, she explained she was broke and he gave her specific instructions and she did them and got Gods deliverance. He ask her yo do something that made no sense but she obeyed. In the gospels this happened many times between Jesus Christ and the disciples where he ask them to do something that by the senses made no senses but he walked by the spirit and knew God would always meet the need.

How did Jacob's trick with the rods before the animals while mating cause them to have different offspring?

1 Samuel 18:6

...... that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

2 Samuel 6:5

And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

2 Chronicles 5:13, 16 and 7:6

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For God is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

Psalms 87:7, 68:25, 150:4

As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

Amos 6:5

That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David;

Habakkuk 3:19

The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief SINGERS on my stringed instruments.

Genesis 30: 27-28

28 And he said, Appoint me thy Wages, and I will give it.

Comment: We live in different times. I think the members of the Church should praise the Lord as a group. Special songs should be free-will offerings. Sacrifice of Praise blesses God, as we see from scripture. He gave Israel victory over their enemies in battle, time after time.

However today, Churches are under pressure to hire professional bands and singers, which travel from church to church, and incur expenses.

You need to search this out, seek the counsel of your elders in your church. Discuss the budget. Also, do not neglect to teach the flock the power of Corporate Praise and Worship vs pew sitters. STAND and sing unto the Lord.

Mishael

Bible question

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They were all his wifes. It's not as if he raped them. In fact his wifes was fighting against each other to see who would get to sleep with him.

To Sparkle answer tour comment onGen.ch30 It was always One Man One Women and will be period But because of the hardness of human hearth, want to write their own story book. They cannot Waite on God n His mercies so they try to give God apush along It always turn bad ButThe Father God in His Great Mercies turn it into something good We should Always Waite on Gods timing n not ours B

What is your point by this? Abraham, Issac both did the same thing.

Four..Jacob had sex with four different women in this chapter

Jacob literally has sex with three women in this chapter and I'm not sure what to think.

All these are part of God's plan.

and it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.
Jacob took away Easu's blessings and now with witchcraft the best of Lebans cattle. Jacob don't seem very honest

Nowhere does God say it is ok to take more than one wife. 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. As we can know by reading the scripture their are work's of man.

Verse 43~Jehovah God saw the injustice that Jacob faced with his father-in-law and he blessed Jacob for his endurance and faith.

Verse 1: Rachel had very strong feelings about having children and not being able to. She felt as if she would die if she could not have children.

I get it that's where the 12 tribes comes from

The beginning of God's bringing to pass His promise to Abraham was the increasing of Jacob's sons, and of all his wealth, as a hired servant among "brethren" according to the flesh; and how God shows the superiority of His Elect and Beloved Ones, over the others who may appear to be greater in this world. When Jesus comes, He will take away all that the ungodly trust in, and give it to His Saints.