Genesis 30:4-13 New International Version (NIV)
4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her, 5 and she became pregnant and bore him a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan.
7 Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali.
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.11 Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” So she named him Gad.
12 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher.
Rachel and Leah were locked in a cruel, competitive contest. Each was in a race to have more children than the other. They did whatever they could to win this contest. They even gave their servants to Jacob to have children. Jacob should have refused, but this was a custom of the time. Even though this was socially acceptable, he did not consult God with this situation. Just because something is what society is doing does not mean it is wise or right. Jacob’s family would have been spared much heartbreak if they had looked at the potential consequences. Do not get blinded by competition or doing things that are socially acceptable just because you may want something so badly. Look to God first. Pray and think through the possible consequences. This will spare you future problems.
