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Genesis 30:1-13
Verse 1-13 -
Rachel envied her sister: envy is grieving at the good of another,
than which no sin is more hateful to God, or more hurtful to our
neighbours and ourselves. She considered not that God made the
difference, and that in other things she had the advantage. Let us
carefully watch against all the risings and workings of this passion
in our minds. Let not our eye be evil towards any of our
fellow-servants, because our Master's is good. Jacob loved Rachel,
and therefore reproved her for what she said amiss. Faithful
reproofs show true affection. God may be to us instead of any
creature; but it is sin and folly to place any creature in God's
stead, and to place that confidence in any creature, which should be
placed in God only. At the persuasion of Rachel, Jacob took Bilhah
her handmaid to wife, that, according to the usage of those times,
her children might be owned as her mistress's children. Had not
Rachel's heart been influenced by evil passions, she would have
thought her sister's children nearer to her, and more entitled to
her care than Bilhah's. But children whom she had a right to rule,
were more desirable to her than children she had more reason to
love. As an early instance of her power over these children, she
takes pleasure in giving them names that carry in them marks of
rivalry with her sister. See what roots of bitterness envy and
strife are, and what mischief they make among relations. At the
persuasion of Leah, Jacob took Zilpah her handmaid to wife also. See
the power of jealousy and rivalship, and admire the wisdom of the
Divine appointment, which joins together one man and one woman only;
for God hath called us to peace and purity.
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