Genesis 30 – Jacob’s Family Grows through Conflict

Genesis 30 – Jacob’s Family Grows through Conflict

Jacob’s family grows as Rachel and Leah compete with each other. Here again we also see that God opens and closes the womb. Here are all the names of the children born in chapter 30 and what the names mean:

6. Dan (son of Rachel’s servant Bilhah) – “God has vindicated me”
7. Naphtali (son of Rachel’s servant Bilhah) – “with the struggling for God, I have struggled”
8. Gad (son of Leah’s servant Zilpah) – “what good fortune” or “luck has come”
9. Asher (son of Leah’s servant Zilpah) – “women will call me happy” or “I am to be envied”
10. Isaachar (son of Leah) – “He rewards” or ” God has rewarded me”
11. Zebulun (son of Leah) – “God has presented me with a gift” combined with “my husband will acknowledge me as a lawful wife”
12. Dinah (daughter of Leah) – no definition is given (note that Jacob has more daughters later in 46:7)
13. Joseph (son of Rachel) – “May the LORD add to me another son”

After Joseph was born Jacob asked Laban to leave. Laban tries to swindle Jacob out of the prosperity God was giving him, but it didn’t work.

We know from Jacob’s comment in verse 2 and from chapter 29 that God is sovereign over the womb. While illustrating much sin, we also see that this chapter is also about fertility. We even see God’s sovereign work through what appears to be superstitious thoughts about the power of mandrakes and poplar, almond, and plane trees (boosting fertility, and/or having an effect on the color of the animals). Even when we think we are acting freely from the providence, intentions, and meticulous sovereignty of God, He is still at work. God is working even in this sinful family to create a people for Himself, to bring a Messiah in Jesus Christ, and ultimately to satisfy His wrath so that those of us who turn to Jesus would be saved.