Text:
Genesis 29:15-30:
15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what
shall thy wages be?
16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto
me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
Theme:
A Side Chick
Introduction:
- The Book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible, the first book of the Old Testament, the first book of the Biblical books of History, the first book of the Pentateuch, and the first book of the Torah.
- Genesis literally means “in the beginning”
- Genesis spans the lives and accomplishments of its five main characters
- Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
- Genesis outlines the beginnings of God’s plan for:
- The universe
- His chosen people
- Our lives
- In the 29th chapter of the Book of Genesis we find a divinely critical but humanly convoluted story…
- Jacob was running from his brother Esau whom he had just tricked out of his birthright
- Deception from his mother, Rebekah
- Jacob wore animal skins to feel hairy like Esau when Isaac, who was blind, was giving the order of birthright
- Deception from Jacob
- Esau traded birthright for food when Esau was tired
- Deception from his mother, Rebekah
- Jacob ran into Rachel, shepherd for her father, Laban’s sheep
- Jacob fell in Love
- He was in love to TEARS
- That’s some serious LOVE
- Jacob goes to Laban, the father, to ask for Rachel as wife
- Laban requires that Jacob works for him 7 years
- Jacob agrees
- Laban gives Jacob Leah instead, tricked at consummation
- Jacob still wants Rachel
- Laban requires he work ANOTHER 7 years
- Jacob agrees
- Jacob was running from his brother Esau whom he had just tricked out of his birthright
Now we find Jacob…What a MESS?
- Jacob has TWO wives
- Rachel…he always loved
- Leah …he never loved
- Jacob had TWO wives
- Rachel …he worked 14 years to have her hand in marriage
- Leah …he was tricked into marrying
- Jacob had TWO wives
- Rachel …his chick…riding with Jacob for life
- Leah …his SIDE CHICK…has to come along for the ride
- This is what we will take a closer look at in this study…
- A Portrait of … A Side Chick
Body:
What is a Side Chick?
- A chick on the side
- From a male perspective
- Can relate to either gender
- A resource that SUPPLEMENTS… not REPLACES
- There is a
- Main chick
- Main squeeze
- Wife
- Girlfriend
- Obviously…
- Don’t want to LOSE
- Don’t want to UPSET
- Don’t want to CHALLENGE
- Don’t want to CHANGE
- There is a
- In the Jewish community, there polygamy was allowed and common
- In our times now, polygamy is illegal and multiple women or men is frowned upon
Although the culture allowed polygamy, God actually required monogamy as His standard for those who serve Him.
- For a bishop
- For a pastor
- For a minister
- For a servant
- For a believer
How do you end up with A Side Chick?
- Waiting in the dark for a blessing in the light
- Jacob waited in the darkness of his secret place for his wife
- Jacob waited in the darkness of his secret place for his pleasure
- Jacob waited in the darkness of his secret place for his blessing
- John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
- John 12:35, “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.”
- When the morning came…
- 1Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
- Wanting God to bless your mess
- Rather than accepting the blessing that God brings to you
- You take what you want to be your blessing to God
- Not Trusting in God
- Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not. In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.”
What is the Primary and what is the Side Chick?
- Looking at Leah and Rachel
- Leah presented
- What Jacob wanted
- What Jacob needed
- The submission requested
- The intimacy requested
- The dedication required
- The children required
- Rachel presented
- The beauty Jacob wanted
- The choice Jacob had made
- Leah was
- Laban’s choice
- Laban’s desire
- Rachel was
- Jacob’s choice
- God’s desire
Let’s make it clear for the “Sustas” out there…
- A man or woman should have ONE physical/emotional “SPOUSE”! J
- Don’t get it twisted. Jacob could be we cannot!!!!
Let’s look at it in different perspectives
- Financially
- Job A à What pays the bills
- Job B à What is what you LIKE or WANT to do and brings money in
- Job C à What is a risky that could pay off well
- Emotionally
- Can have a friend but a cashier at the grocery store is the one who gives the comfort needed…unknowingly
- Can have a wife or husband but have a work wife or work husband whom you talk or “hang” with regularly
- Needs to be met emotionally…
- Validation
- Understanding
- Intimacy
- encouragement
Conclusion:
- Spiritually
- God said à Exodus 20:3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
- God said à Deuteronomy 4:24, “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”
- We, as believers, have that day when…
- God touched our hearts
- God covered our selves
- God filled our souls
- God changed our lives
- But we..
- Sought another touch
- Sought another covering
- Sought another “word”
- Sought another perspective
- Sought another charisma
- But we..
- But there is no other SALVATION!!!
- Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
- We say we have already been SAVED but really it is just a “Reservation”
- Through His Holy Spirit we can get it CONFIRMED
- When Jesus comes back we can show our CONFIRMED TICKET to the STEP ON BOARD
- Gonna take the FLIGHT one day!!!!!!
- We say we have already been SAVED but really it is just a “Reservation”
- Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”