Read: Genesis 30:1-31:16; Matthew 10:1-25; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15
As Leah was bearing children, Rachel was becoming more and more frustrated and upset that she was not bearing. She blamed it on Jacob who told her he wasn’t the one denying her children but God was. So Rachel gave Jacob her maid, Bilhah also he could have a son through her. She had Dan and then Naptali. Not to be outdone, Leah gave Jacob her maid, Zilpah and she had Gad and Asher.
One day, Rueben brought some mandrakes home to his mother, Leah. Mandrakes were known to make a woman fertile. Rachel tried to buy them from Leah which she did for a night with Isaac. (I wonder if Jacob felt like the pawn in their baby competition.) Leah gained Issachar that night, then Zebulun and Dinah. Finally, God heard the cry of Rachel’s heart and she conceived Joseph.
Jacob felt it was time to break off from Laban and go back home so he made a deal with Laban to fairly divide the animals. The problem was that God kept blessing Jacob with the best and strongest animals and Laban with the weaker ones. Laban tried to cheat Jacob till finally Jacob had had enough and decided to run away. He consulted his wives and they agreed that their father had turned on them and they were no longer honored by him. They packed all their belongings and set off to go back to Canaan.
In Matthew, Jesus called his 12 disciples and gave them authority to do the things he did: drive out unclean spirits, heal all diseases and preach that the kingdom of heaven was near. He gave them specific instructions about what they could and could not take. The people were to supply their needs and they were not to receive any money for what they did. Jesus warned them that they would be loved by some and persecuted by the religious system. The Holy Spirit would give them the words to say to their accusers when the time came. They would get a taste of his life and theirs when he was to leave.
Lord, help us to take the authority Jesus gave us and boldly proclaim the kingdom of power.
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