Justin Houtz

Genesis 29-30; Luke 12

DateVersionReading Plan
January 12, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Genesis 29-30

Observation & Interpretation

Gen. 29:9 – Rachel was a shepherdess.

  • Keeping sheep was an unusual occupation for an Israelite woman—hence the comment explaining why she came with the flock. (FSB)

Gen. 29:11-12 – In his interaction with Rachel, Jacob kissed Rachel, wept aloud and told her that he was his father’s kinsmen.

Gen. 29:20 – Jacob served Laban for seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him only a few days because of the love he had for Rachel.

  • The years seemed to Jacob but a few days because of the love he had for her. That is how it should be in our service for the Lord. (BBC)

Gen. 29:25-30 – Jacob had served Laban seven years in order to have his daughter, Rachel, as wife, but at the end of seven years, Laban gave Jacob his firstborn daughter, Leah, instead. Laban told Jacob that it was not done in his country to give the younger away before the firstborn. Laban told Jacob that if he served another seven years, he would receive Rachel also. Jacob did so—serving Laban a total of fourteen years—for both Rachel and Leah. Jacob went into Rachel also (having previously gone into Leah – v. 23) and loved Rachel more than Leah.

  • As Kenneth Mathews says, “Jacob’s indignation is a fitting answer to the crime he perpetrated against Esau.” Marriage to two sisters would later be forbidden by Mosaic Law (Lev. 18:18)

Gen. 29:31-35 – When the LORD saw that Leah was hated by Jacob, He opened her womb and gave her sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. Leah gives attribution to the LORD for three of her first four sons. About Levi, Leah said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” (v. 34).

Gen. 29:32, 34; 30:20 – There is a pattern in these chapters that Leah is particularly focused on garnering her husband Jacob’s love, attachment and honor.

Gen. 30:25-36 – Jacob began a six-year effort (31:41) to increase his wealth at Laban’s expense. During that time he used at least three different techniques to make the flocks produce sheep and goats he could keep: (1) he separated the strong animals from the weak, using only the strong ones for his breeding purposes; (2) he set … peeled branches … in the water channels where the sheep bred; and (3) he made the flocks face the streaked and completely dark sheep in Laban’s flocks. Though the latter two practices have no scientific value, God himself (31:7-8, 42) and the angel of God (31:11-12) caused Jacob to become very rich. (CSB Notes)

Luke 12

Observation & Interpretation

Luke 12:25-26 – In speaking to the disciples, Jesus pointed out through rhetorical question that none of them could add a single hour of life by being anxious. He then asked them why they would be anxious about the rest if they were not able to do such a small thing.

  • [Jesus’ instruction] indicates the folly of worrying over things (such as the future) over which we have no control. No one by worrying can add to his height, or to the length of his life…If that is so, why worry about the future? Rather, let us use all our strength and time serving Christ, and leave the future to Him. (BBC)

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