Four Wives?

Read Genesis 31
 
Genesis 31:53-55 So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there. 55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.
 
GENESIS 31 - 32 are a long account of Jacob entering into a new life. He is about 40 years old when he leaves his home to find a wife among his mother’s people. Against his will, he is deceived into marrying Leah. And then he marries his desire, Rachel. Through these two women, mainly Leah, and their two servant women, Bilhah and Zilpah, were born one daughter and the 12 sons who are the fathers of the 12 Tribes of Israel.
    This is a difficult account to read. Is there any simple way for God to save us? Considering what Genesis has revealed to this point, sin has caused great division, death and destruction in the human race. God’s perfectly created world is a mess. Jacob, the Deceiver, has been deceived several times by his uncle Laban. Leah and Rachel have manipulated him in a jealous contest for children. What is God doing here?
    We can only conjecture an answer. But could this pattern of deceit against Jacob occur to show Jacob his own sin? What we always must remember is that God works in his own way through our sins to advance his salvation to mankind. For his own reasons, God has set the stage for the nation Israel in ways we wouldn’t expect.
    We can be surprised at God’s actions, but we can’t say “There is no hope.” when the hard times come. God will often use adversity to show us what we must know about ourselves. To become closer to God, we must see how far from him we are. Instead of asking God, “Why?” perhaps we should confess, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24b)
   
 
Good to Know: What God did with Jacob he wants to do with you.