When I read the Bible, especially the book of Genesis sometimes I am left scratching my head. Only God could have done this. I mean really the study of genetics was not founded until what sometime time in the mid 19th century with some dude name Gregor Mendel. Right?? WRONG!! We have been tracking through the entire book of Genesis here in January 2021. This book is filled with so much drama ... it is action packed and. it is about real people doing the goofiest of stuff. In Genesis 29 and 30 where we landed today, Jacob finds the girl he wants to marry but he does not have anything for a dowry. So instead he negotiates with his Uncle to work for 7 years as a shepherd of his flocks to have Rachel as his wife. Ole Uncle Laban is a slight one ... he never really says that he will give Jacob "Rachel." He only says "she." After 7 years working probably alongside his beloved Rachel who was a shepherdess, Jacob wants his wife. Uncle Laban throws a feast ... for the guys!! Later that night Laban delivers Leah to Jacob tent ... Jacob probably was asleep when a female body suddenly was in his arms. He enjoys the fruits of a wife only to wake up the next morning to sister Leah in bed with him. YIKE!! The guy who tricked good ole dad into giving him his blessing, got tricked. Yes, Uncle Laban gives Rachel also to Jacob after Leah gets her week's undivided attention with her husband that she will forever share with other women. And the breeding program beginnings of the children of Jacob from Leah (7), Bilhah (2), Zilpah (2) and Leah (1): 11 sons and 1 daughter. Now Jacob is ready to go home. But Uncle Laban realizes that Jacob is an asset and does not want him to leave. So they work out this deal about Jacob getting all the spotted, striped and speckled sheep and goats. Jacob takes three type of branches and does what at first listen sounds like a fairytale ... but actually this is a smart breeding program that is designed to increase the number of spotted, speckled, stripped animals. And any that were born that results in these belong to whom?? Jacob. I was scratching my head after reading it to you so I had to do an internet search to figure out if this was could have possibly resulted in what is depicted here. And the answer was found here:
Enjoy.