October 18, 2023 – Devotions – What If…?

What if Zilpah’s Name Meant Zilch?

“Then Laban said to Jacob, “Tell me, what shall your wages be?” Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel… Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Laban said, “This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife. (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.) So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years. When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.” Genesis 29:15-31

“When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, “Good fortune!” so she named him Gad. Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, “Happy am I! For the women will call me happy”; so she named him Asher.” Genesis 30:9-12

The trickery that Laban uses to determine that his oldest daughter is taken in marriage before the younger daughter is quite devious. This of course was the way of things – the oldest should be married before the youngest. It just so happened that Jacob loved Laban’s youngest daughter, Rachel. But Laban was a trickster, it seems – just like Jacob. In the darkness of the marriage bed, Leah is switched for Rachel – and so the deceiver has been deceived. It almost seems as if the Lord is giving Jacob payback, in a way, for his deceiving his oldest brother Esau out of his birthright and blessing from their father Isaac. What comes around goes around, they say.

Anyway, let’s clear up our story here just a bit. When Jacob flees Esau’s anger over being deceived, he travels to be with his uncle Laban. Laban has two daughters, that we know of – Leah the oldest, and Rachel. Laban had given his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid – and had given his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel. As is often the case in biblical stories, one of the sisters is barren, while the other is able to bear children. Rachel initially cannot have children, so she gives her maid Bilhah to Jacob so she can give him children for her. And when Leah stops having children, she gives her maid, Zilpah to Jacob so more children will be given to Jacob in her name. But, what if Zilpah was barren like Leah’s sister Rachel? Obviously there would have been two fewer sons – and possibly we would have talked about the Ten Tribes of Israel (though G-d would have worked this out somehow). But this story gives us insight into the lives of those who were there at the very beginning of the establishment of the tribes of Israel. As such, there were many women who came to be a part of the promise.

Pastor Dave