In the Beginning

In The Beginning

In reading the chapter entitled “In The Beginning” I discovered many interesting events that took place. I will attempt to explore the roles of the Genesis matriarchs which include Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel. Also I will compare their stories with those of Lot’s wife and daughters, Jacob’s daughter Dinah, and Potiphar’s wife.

First, lets take a closer look at Sarah who is the wife of Abraham. Here we see a woman who is a devoted mate and concerned with fulfilling God’s prophecies. It had been a known fact that Sarah has been found barren and had reached a very old age. Sarah had wanted so desperately to give her husband a child but could not. Sarah had suggested that her husband lie down with her slave servant and allow her to have a child. So the maidservant and Sarah’s husband conceived a child together.

Hagar was the Egyptian servant who had bore Abrahams first son Ishmael. Since the conception of her child it seemed as if Sarah was a bit jealous of the slave. This was evident by the way Sarah had begun treating Hagar and her child. Sarah demanded that her husband Abraham send them away. Why had God allowed this treatment toward Hagar to occur when she only was being obedient to Sarah’s wishes? It seemed later that Sarah was able to conceive and also had a boy. At this point Sarah wanted nothing else to do with Hagar and her child indefinitely. She was filled with pride and was trying to protect her son’s inheritance.

Rebekah was a beautiful young woman and ultimately became Issac’s wife. It seem that Rebekah like Sarah was thought to have been barren. It took years for her to conceive any children. Finally God’s will allowed Rebekah to give birth to twin boys. Rebekah love for her children was unconditional.

Now comes, Leah Laban’s older daughter, whom he married to Jacob by trickery. After, Jacob had worked seven years of hard labor for her younger sister, Rachel. Jacob was very much in love with Rachel from the start but her father used him for another seven years. After another seven years he would then be able to marry Rachel. Although, Jacob disliked Leah, she bore him six sons and a daughter according to (genesis 4:11). Leah was a not so attractive woman and she was in love with her husband Jacob. But, despite the love she had for him he still disliked Leah. Leah wanted so very much to be accepted by her husband so she kept conceiving and that didn’t work. I wonder why God kept Leah in a relationship where she was lacking love? God knew Jacob didn’t and was never going to love her.

Rachel was the daughter of Laban, second and favorite wife of Jacob. Jacob paid a price to be able to wed Rachel. After being tricked for over two decades he still longed for her. Leah and Rachel became sort of rivals and there had been a lot a jealousy sparked. Why did God allow Rachel to steal her fathers house hold gods and not get caught?

It seems that in comparison with Lot’s wife and daughters, Jacob’s daughter Dinah, and Potiphar’s wife to the above mentioned women of the bible, these women were some kind of sexual predators. All these women seem to have some sexual encounter that was viewed as disrespect to themselves and their body. For example, Lot’s daughters got him drunk with wine on two consecutive nights. Each daughter committed incest with her father, and became pregnant. Lot’s wife who name is unknown