Know The Facts

One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But Leah angrily replied, “Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?” Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.” [Genesis 30.14-16]

As always, there remains much that is not understood about the culture of these times. Polygamy is one thing and, on top of that, slavery (the girls' servants) is quite another. Regardless what one thinks he or she knows about these two things, God never once spoke against them - and there were certainly plenty of opportunities to do so! But that is not why I am writing...

Leah made an accusation in the passage above against Rachel. Leah's accusation was just wrong. Rachel did NOT steal Leah's husband. Instead, Leah's own father's shady dealings put Leah in the position she was in.

Like so many do today, Leah made an unfounded accusation. Leah failed to assess the situation for what it was and consequently failed to rightly conclude the source of her problem. Her father Laban had really done here a huge injustice.

This just reminds me that we today need to be careful what we "blame" others for. And, I am not necessarily taking a Freudian approach here as much as I am just stating the obvious. Leah was in the position she was in because at the last minute Laban slipped her into the marriage bed with Jacob! What could she expect from Rachel since she and Jacob knew and anticipated for seven years they were getting married. Leah and Jacob had no chance to form a relationship.

So it occurs to me that we should know the facts before we make accusations.

Father, as simple as it may seem, I know I need to assess situations more thoroughly before I make my responses to those situations. Help me to be slow to speak and quick to hear.