Rachel experienced the love of Jacob, but the inability to have children brought great pain (v1). She is now seeking from Jacob what God alone can give (v2). Here we have a common mistake that people continue to make today, seeking to provide by human effort what God alone can bring. This is true of salvation but also of so much other blessing in life.

Try to manipulate the situation contrary to the will of God is the path Rachel now takes (v3). Bilhah is cruelly treated and with no respect as a human being made in God’s image. It is a dangerous thing to treat people as objects there for our own benefit rather than people loved by God.

Bilhah has a son Dan and Rachel sees this as vindication (v4-6). People try and find vindication and self-worth in many ways rather than coming to rest in God, in His love and His will.

Rachel’s scheming rather than producing peace and contentment produce a very low and unfulfilling contest between the two sisters (v7-24) and eleven sons are born plus one daughter. The amazing thing is that despite their sinful ways, God still acts so graciously (see v17 and 22). What a wonderful God!