In one of the Bible’s more unusual stories, two sisters negotiate over fertility plants while their shared husband simply goes along with whatever arrangement has been made for him. It is messy and very strange, but at its centre is the presence of God.
“ During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night. 17 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.19 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honour, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.21 Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.” (Genesis 30 v 14-21)
This peculiar part of the story only makes sense when we know that Mandrakes in the ancient world were associated with fertility and love.
Reuben brings some of these plants to his mum, Leah, who had already given birth to Jacob’s sons but lacked his love and attention.
Rachel, the beloved wife who had not yet given Jacob any children, is desperate and will try any remedy on offer. They were not on offer. Leah’s response was that Rachel had everything; she certainly had the one thing Leah had longed for, Jacob’s love. So will she take her son’s mandrakes too?
What follows is quite bizarre, and surely there must be some more interactions?
Rachel trades a night with Jacob for the mandrakes. It is bizarre, isn’t it? Presumably, this happens not just once but twice more. Leah meets Jacob at the end of his working day and tells him he’s bought a night with him. Jacob perhaps simply shrugs his shoulders and goes along with the transaction. It seems terribly dysfunctional, but v 17 shows that God was involved, “God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant …”
Isn’t that amazing? Read it again. In His listening, God acts, and Leah becomes pregnant again and again, then bears a daughter (at the moment, nothing more is said, and no one would want to predict what would happen to Dinah, even if they could; we will get to that eventually).
Leah, the woman who is unloved, has God’s attention. This is the main point at this time.
In a very messy family story, God is present.
God does not wait for people to have their lives in order before he engages with them. He is there. Leah knows He has seen her and heard her; she is not forgotten. Perhaps this is all that faith really is and what matters.
Missions Paul 