Sometime this week I watched a movie called "The Bible, Jacob" I have forgotten who wrote & directed it. I tried to follow it by reading the bible. It was derived from Genesis chapters 25 -31. There's something there that I kept asking myself - about Jacob's "Wives & concubines"

In part, as I watched the movie I kept referring to the bible and comprehended this way. Jacob fell in love with Racheal(daughter of his Uncle, and Jacob's cousin), worked for 7 years to marry her. Laban(described as the treacherous uncle in the movie)swapped Leah(a sister to Rachel, also Jacob's cousin) for Rachael on the night Jacob was to probably have his honeymoon with Racheal(Gen29:23). Jacob actually married both sisters(his cousins)(Gen 29:25-30) I found this so disturbing because my culture looks at this as "incest".

In other verses(Gen30:4 & 30:9)Jacob lay with both Rachael & leah servants. The bible refered to these as his concubines, My God. It's so confusing TO ME. Anybody out there can agree with me that no christian can live such a life!

Today if any christian lived the life of Jacob nobody would approve of it, WHY?? Yet I have had several xtians trying to defend their way of lives by refering to Jacob's life. Could somebody give justification why today's xtian should not live like Jacob?

The other confusing thing in the New Testament I found when I was watching another movie directed by Roger Young: "The bible, Jesus" was the repetition of his life in the books of Matthew, Mark & Luke. Why was it a repetition??

God bless.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <MJCARES>,

It is true that the many of the Old Testament men of God practiced polygamy, which was common in their day. God wisely ordained that a man should have but one wife. But repeatedly we see that His will was crossed by fallible men, including Solomon, who was considered the wisest man on earth. Solomon's heart departed from the living God as he attempted to please his hundreds of pagan wives. David, his father, committed the same sin, although on a smaller scale. Jacob took a second wife because of the deception of his father-in-law; later, out of jealousy over who was to have more children, his two wives gave their servants to Jacob as concubines. Polygamy was always contrary to God's plan, but as the Bible says: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." (Acts 17:30). We can read the results of the errors of these men of old, and we can avoid the painful events that they suffered due to the evil of polygamy.

As to the charge of incest, it is clear that
since Adam and Eve were the first parents of all living, Cain had to marry one of his sisters. The custom of marrying brothers with sisters remained in force for a long time, as shown by Abraham's marriage to his half-sister Sarah. Marriage to close relatives was not prohibitted until later (see Leviticus 18:6-17). God knew that as man's physical and moral strength declined through the ages, marriage to relatives would weaken the bloodlines, leading to many genetic diseases, so He set up laws to prevent such problems.

The three "synoptic gospels,"--Matthew, Mark, and Luke--present the life of Christ from three different witnesses who knew Him while He lived as a man here on earth. The Jewish tradition was that "In the mouth of two witnesses, it shall be established." Therefore, it was necessary for more than one person to attest to His life and teachings. The testimony of several persons supports the facts as seen by different eyes. Even in a court case, it is always wise to have corroborating witnesses.

God deals with each generation according to the circumstances in the world in which they live. He expects more holness of His people today because we have the testimony of witnesses who lived with Jesus, and He magnified the law and explained it and lived it before men. Some Christians of this last generation will be privileged to meet the Lord without seeing death; let us therefore be "perfect," even as our Father in heaven is perfect.

I hope this helps your understanding in some small way. The Lord always allows us to question His ways. God bless you in your search for truth.

Lydia - VERY good answer! Thank you for taking the time write. The only thing I would add is that Jesus made a similar statement with regard to divorce:

Matthew 19:8
Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning."

Just because we see the way marriage is regarded in the OT does not mean this is the way God intended it to be or that it is the way which is pleasing to God. Sin greatly distorted God's perfect plan. Marriage is intended to be a permanent bond between one woman and one man!

Thanks again!

Troxel & Lydia thanx so, so much for your response to my question - am content and comfortable. I can now defend that bit if some xtians want to take advantage of it. Am convinced that although some people I quote:"are not in the mind set to answer questions", somebody else on this board is yearning to pour out the bible knowledge to others who want to learn more about it; and indeed, Troxel Steve & Lydia have really showed this to me. It's the more reason why there are lots of christian literature on bookshelves about various topics - we definately cannot exhaust them(the topics)! TROXEL THIS BOARD IS THE BEST IDEA IN THE WORLD THAT U EVER CAME UP WITH. GOD BLESS U A HANDFOLD.

SerenityStyle, thx for your response too. I agree with you and I, with this kind of question, IS ONE AMONG THE MANY WHO NEEDED TO BE PULLED OUT OF STRUGGLE, GUIDED AND ENCOURAGED accordingly just like those community people. Other than be confused and frustrated, I will B able to intepret the bible and defend anything like this particular question as well. Remember the bible is also a comforter. I dont want to always be puzzled whenever I open certain pages but be able to understand & interprete 2 myself.

Thx once again to U all. God's abundant, unconditional blessingS.

There is the teaching that God intended man to have only one wife based on Jesus words when he said for this cause shall a man leave his mother & father & shall cleave unto his wife & then the 2 shall be 1 flesh; but as far as the precise rules about it I only find 2: In the old testament it says that it is against God's law for a King to multiply wives to himself (In revelation chapter one it says he makes us kings) & in the new testament it says that if we cannot take care of our own household (most likely financially) then we are worse than an infidel. As it was pointed out in another thread, God writes his covenant in our hearts & so he will tell everyone what is right & wrong for them personally, if they walk with him & listen to him.

I agree with all the posts. I just want to clarify that "incest" is when close relatives marry each other, not when one man marries two related women. The prohibition against incest set out in the Bible, and maintained in many non-Christian cultures as well, is wise because the offspring of such a union would more than likely result in a severe birth defect. That is why so many royal families of old had insane people and hemophiliacs (bleeders) who died young. The issue in Jacob's case is polygamy, not incest. It seems this was implied but I wanted to clarify it. God bless.

There are a couple old testament laws that say dont go in unto a woman & her sister or a woman & her mother or her daughter or anyone of near kin to your wife.