The Wife of Rebellion

Gen 28:10 - 32:2

How is Jacob connected to the Tower of Babel and what does Rachel have to do with it?

Wayyetzee begins with the vision of Jacob's ladder. It is described as reaching to heaven. There is only one other place in Scripture this phrase is used – The Tower of Babel.

You may be thinking, "So, both structures reach to the heavens, that doesn't necessarily mean anything." That is a valid thought but, this is not the only connection between the two stories. Once we read the stories carefully, we see there is a similar order of events. There is an instruction, a rebellion, a brick, and an intervention. Let's examine this together.

Instruction

Noah and his descendants were instructed to multiply and fill the earth. (Gen 9:1)

Jacob was instructed to find a wife and return home. (Gen 28:2-4)

Rebellion

Noah and his descendants were to fill the earth, yet by Gen 11 they were all settling in one place, fulfilling their own goals.

But what was Jacob's rebellion? This is harder to see on the surface. His rebellion was choosing Rachel. Bear with me! The full study will go into MUCH more detail and explanation but I will highlight the facts here:

* Jacob saw Rachel.

This never goes well. Other males that saw women include the sons of Elohim, Esau, and Sampson.

* Jacob claimed Rachel.

He did not ask for guidance in choosing a wife. He saw what he wanted and he took (kissed) her.

* Jacob stayed for Rachel.

When Jacob realizes he married Leah, he should have left. He had a wife, now he should return home.

Bricks

Finally, when Jacob realized that he did not have the wife he wanted, he did not talk to YHWH, he talked to Laban.

This is worse than it seems. Laban shares a root with “brick”. In fact, the two words are spelled the same, but have different vowel pointings (לבן). Brick is first used at the tower of Babel (they used brick for stone) and next used in Egypt – (their lives were made bitter with brick).

In Gen 11 the people turn from the purpose YHWH established for them. In Sedom, Lot's wife longingly looks back during her escape. In the wilderness, the people longingly looked back to Egypt. Jacob is supposed to return home, but instead, he turns to Laban. He turns to the brick.

(See the Living Stones study for more detail on bricks and stone.)

Intervention

In Gen 9, the Father had given the instruction to fill the earth but instead the people settled in one place, with one language. When YHWH saw what they were doing, He confused the language and dispersed the people. This was not punishment, it was correction.

In Gen 27, the Father, Isaac, gave the instruction to get a wife and return home. In Gen 29, Jacob wants another. So how does YHWH intervene? With Laban's deception! (Very fitting for Jacob!) We are told Jacob saw Rachel, he was making a mistake. He was looking with his eyes instead of being led by YHWH. Therefore, YHWH used Laban to help Jacob get back on track.

The problem is, just like all of Israel for all of time, Jacob did not accept this correction. He kept pursuing what his flesh wanted. As a result, he spent another 13 years in oppression instead of returning to the land of rest.

Conclusion

Jacob's rebellion is not the end of his story. We are promised that all things work to good for those who love YHWH. Yah continues to work in Jacob's life, blessing him with children and animals.

I strongly urge you to read the full study to continue the study of Rachel and Leah. In this same study we explore the importance of place and the 12 stones of Jacob.

Read the Full Study Here.