Getting Fruit From God (Gen 30:1-16)

“And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? So she said, Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her." (vs2-3)

First, God is the One who gives fruit, so we honor Him, even if it means that we are nothing – get no glory – and He is everything. We yield fruit as we YIELD to God getting all the praise. It is for His honor, so that He be praised, even if we are hated by men, ignored, etc. Even if Rachel and Leah must have children by others, so long as sons are born to Jacob, they are happy! It only matters that He is loved and we respond in peace to His gospel, confessing Him the rightful King of our lives. So long as He is praised, we're happy.

He bears fruit by faith, delivering us from death, the law, and condemnation, doing us good as His bride. Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son” (vs7). This fruit honors Him, keeps His name going, and rejoices us. We confess, “God has done this”. He heard our miserable cry and helped us in time of need, rolling away the stone, and filling us spiritually. And, acknowledging His work, He keeps blessing. We read, “And Rachel's maid Bilhah concived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed” (vs7-8). It takes prayer, fasting, and PATIENCE to bring fruit to God. After the curse, it isn't easy.

I've heard of places in the earth where soil is fertile, you can drop a seed and it will sprout. Yet, the most fertile ground is BARREN compared to what it would be like, if there was no sin. Thorns and thistles, sweat and pain in child birth, and the heat of the day wouldn't hurt us, except for sin. Now, fruit-bearing is hard but successful.

We fight for fruit, spurred on by the faithfulness of others, seeing them blessed and saying, “Me too. Why not me? Give me fruit or I die” (vs1, 8). We conquer when we rely on God like this - for His honor, so that our election may be sure, so that sinners would be without excuse and consciously condemned, and so that our joy may be full as promised.

Secondly, competition is good. She said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister” (vs8). It is good to be provoked unto good works by the labors of others, to be reproved, to be encouraged, and to become zealous by someone else's zeal (2 Cor 8:1-3). He will hear all who want zeal to match the zeal of others, not in a self-loving or brotherly-hating way, but in a way where WE get involved and taste Christ. He will honor this continually, and happiness is the result. Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed” (vs13). Fruit bearing BREEDS extensive internal joy. It is peace to be spiritually led and fruitful.

Thirdly, if you want the Son, then allure Him. The church has a right to Him, and so do you. Use that RIGHT to butter Him up, to allure Him to you, to show Him the joy of your fellowship and the fruitfulness - the honor it gives Him, the word it fulfills, the joy it gives you, and the glory it renders to God that we bear fruit, as evil as we are. We read, “Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah... And Rachel said, Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes” (vs14-15).

You must get Christ for yourself, and it must be your tears, your labors, and your faith that He sees. He will not bless you second handily, but He will bless those who HAVE faith. We read, “Then Rachel said to Leah, Please give me some of your son's mandrakes. But she said to her, Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also? (vs14-15)” We must take care of our own flame and keep oil in our own lamps (Matt 25:8-9). We can share the same Christ, but we can't share the same faith between us. We must never give up our relationship with Christ for ANY reason.

Lastly, be bold. You have believed on Him, now know that He hears you and will come. Know that blessings are yours. We read, ““Leah went out to meet [Jacob] and said, You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night” (vs16).

He sees our love, hears our plea, and comes in to us to the delighting of our soul. He is winnable.