#47: Superstition

Genesis 30:14-18

During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?”

“Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”

So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.

God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.

Comments

Mandrakes were a plant commonly understood to have magical properties enhancing fertility. Rachel, who was still childless, didn’t think it fair that Leah, who had already given birth to four sons, should have mandrakes as well. Rachel wanted them because she was desperate enough to try anything to get pregnant.

Leah, who had been neglected by Jacob even though she gave him four sons, bought a night with Jacob and became pregnant again. She considered this a blessing from God for having let Jacob sleep with her servant. It is unlikely God looked at this situation in the same way.

Both sisters displayed magical thinking, not only in their belief a plant could make them fertile, but also in thinking pregnancy was a reward for good behavior and barrenness a punishment for bad behavior. The Bible may be our authority, but not everything Bible characters say and do is a good model for us to follow.

Reflections

Rachel bought the mandrakes, but it was Leah who became pregnant. Have your plans ever turned out the opposite of what you wanted?

Rachel thought mandrakes could help her get pregnant. Are you superstitious about anything? Do you think superstitions are compatible with faith in God?

Prayer

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who holds the world in your hands and delights in giving good gifts to your children.