Genesis 30:5 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Genesis 30:5

Comments

The ruse was successful, in as much as Bilhah bore a son. This is the first mention of the Lord by Rachel. ‘God has judged me’, she said, so she called his name Dan – ‘judge’ or ‘judging’. What she means is, God has vindicated me, God has brought justice to me. This all about her, and her quarrel with her sister. They are at war, and now her maid has born a son on her behalf, and she wants to maximise the profit she will get from this. The fact God has given me a child proves in Rachel’s mind that the devious step she has taken is acceptable to God. It also a confirmation to her that God is on her side in her quarrel. This is sheer hypocrisy, hypocritical calling on the name of God. Yet God in his grace again overruled evil with good. When Jacob pronounced blessing and curses on his children at the end of his life, Dan’s name was taken up and given a positive meaning, despite this twisted origin to the name: ‘Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel’ (Genesis 49:16).A second child is born to Bilhah, Naphtali, whose name means ‘my wrestling’ or ‘my struggle’, in other words she acknowledges that she is in a struggle with her sister. In a sense neither of them fully had Jacob’s heart and the peace and tranquillity of what should be a loving family was torn apart by their feuding. They were locked in a bitter battle. In a way God is with Jacob; God will bless him. But there is also deep unhappiness because of disobedience. God is keeping the promise – children are coming to Jacob, but neither he nor his wives can enjoy them.

Application

It is a terrible perversion of prayer, when God is made to be simply the vehicle of our justification, that is, the justification of our ungodly and unrepented of actions. Yet this is so common. Instead of men and women measuring themselves by God’s standards. he is forced to adapt himself to theirs. They seek the moral high ground by having God on their side. This way of thinking becomes a pattern, especially for those who are religious only in a nominal sense. Religion serves a purpose in their lives, but it is not to bring them to know God; it is to justify all their ungodly behaviour.

If we backslide then God is there even in it. He will keep his promises towards us, but the Christian life which is meant to be a life of joy will contain much sorrow and pain. This is the experience of backsliding. God will not make it an easy experience for us, for he is driving us back to himself again in repentance. God can be blessing our family and we are not involved because of our sin; we are out of it.

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Genesis 30:5 Commentary and Bible Study