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Commentary on Genesis 30 verses 37–43
Here is Jacob's honest policy to make his bargain more advantageous to himself than it was likely to be. If he had not taken some course to help himself, it would have been a bad bargain indeed, which he knew Laban would never consider, or rather would be well pleased to see him a loser by, so little did Laban consult any one's interest but his own. Now Jacob's contrivances were, 1. To set peeled sticks before the cattle where they were watered, that, looking much at those unusual party-coloured sticks, by the power of imagination they might bring forth young ones in like manner party-coloured, Gen 30:37-39. Probably this custom was commonly used by the shepherds of Canaan, who coveted to have their cattle of this motley colour. Note, It becomes a man to be master of his trade, whatever it is, and to be not only industrious, but ingenious in it, and to be versed in all its lawful arts and mysteries; for what is a man but his trade? There is a discretion which God teaches the husbandman (as plain a trade as that is), and which he ought to learn, Isa 28:26. 2. When he began to have a stock of ringstraked and brown, he contrived to set them first, and to put the faces of the rest towards them, with the same design as in the former contrivance; but would not let his own, that were of one colour, Gen 30:40. Strong impressions, it seems, are made by the eye, with which therefore we have need to make a covenant. 3. When he found that his project succeeded, through the special blessing of God upon it, he contrived, by using it only with the stronger cattle, to secure to himself those that were most valuable, leaving the feebler to Laban, Gen 30:41, Gen 30:42. Thus Jacob increased exceedingly (Gen 30:43), and grew very rich in a little time. This success of his policy, it is true, was not sufficient to justify it, if there had been any thing fraudulent or unjust in it, which we are sure there was not, for he did it by divine direction (Gen 31:12); nor was there any thing in the thing itself but the honest improvement of a fair bargain, which the divine providence wonderfully prospered, both in justice to Jacob whom Laban had wronged and dealt hardly with and in pursuance of the particular promises made to him of the tokens of the divine favour, Note, Those who, while their beginning is small, are humble and honest, contented and industrious, are in a likely way to see their latter end greatly increasing. He that is faithful in a little shall be entrusted with more. He that is faithful in that which is another man's shall be entrusted with something of his own. Jacob, who had been a just servant, became a rich master.
The just man Jacob comes in like a hired hand and yet is the master who, in his ministry of preaching the gospel, gathered together a flock that is resplendent in the brilliance of its many signal virtues. Thus, when the flock came to drink, he would set before them in the troughs the bough of storax and walnut and that from the plane tree; those who felt desire for the mysteries of the most blessed Trinity that were prefigured there could engender offspring that were not at all discolored, by conceiving them in a devout mind. Good were the sheep that produced the offspring that were good works and that were not degenerate in holy faith. By the storax is meant the incense and the evening sacrifice that is offered to God the Father in the psalm; by the walnut bough, the priestly gift that is offered by Christ. For this is Aaron’s bough, that blossomed when it was set down, and through it the grace of priestly holiness was manifested. By the plane tree is meant an abundance of spiritual fruit, because a vine attaches itself to this tree so that the tree may be fertile through the symbiosis and pour itself out into rich offspring. Even so, the addition of the grace of the Spirit has generally nurtured the gifts of the Lord’s passion as well as the forgiveness of all sins.
Because the three rods have been mentioned, we can examine further, if you are agreeable, the symbolism of the kingdom implicit in them. The patriarch chose for himself three rods from three trees. The first was perfumed from the storax tree, the second smooth from the plane tree, the third unbending from the almond tree. The plane contains the Spirit, the storax the Virgin, and the almond Christ. For the plane extends its spreading branches to provide shade; so the Holy Spirit fashioned Christ by casting his shadow over the Virgin. I believe that the rod from the storax, the tree of David, is the Virgin who in childbirth brought forth a sweet-smelling Blossom. The rod of the almond tree is Christ, for there is food within that tree, which has an outer casing consisting of bitter bark over its green skin. Here you must recognize the divine Christ clothed in our human body. In that flesh he can be broken; the food lies in the Word, the bitterness in the cross. His hard covering consists of the tidings of the cross and the food of that cross, and it encloses within the divine remedy in the flesh of Christ.
The rod also enigmatically symbolizes for us the Immanuel, for he is actually called by this name in the divinely inspired Scriptures. “And there shall sprout a rod,” the divine Isaiah says, “out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root.” David … proclaimed to the heavenly Father and God: “Your rod and your staff have comforted me.” We received consolation in Christ and made him our pillar. In fact, it was written, “The Lord shall support the righteous.” And Christ in a sense displays a sort of rod to us as to reasonable goats and herds spread all over the earth and in the whole world. But it is not a rod of any kind, but it is made out of storax wood and walnut and plane tree. The storax tree is placed as a witness of righteousness. This tree is the symbol of death. The body of the dead is treated with perfumes, and a very sweet perfume is the oil of the storax tree. Christ died for us and was buried, according to Scripture. The rod made of walnut wood is a symbol of watchfulness.
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SUMMARY
Genesis 30:37 meticulously details Jacob's unconventional strategy of preparing striped rods from specific trees and placing them in the watering troughs of Laban's flocks. This action was rooted in ancient folk beliefs regarding maternal impression, where visual stimuli during conception were thought to influence offspring characteristics. However, the biblical narrative ultimately reveals that the subsequent success of this method, leading to the proliferation of speckled and spotted animals, was not due to Jacob's ingenuity or the rods themselves, but rather to God's sovereign and supernatural intervention, ensuring Jacob's prosperity and upholding divine justice against Laban's repeated deceptions.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The narrative of Genesis 30:37 employs several literary devices that enrich its meaning. Irony is prominent, as Jacob's meticulous and seemingly superstitious method, rooted in ancient folk beliefs, is presented as the immediate cause of the flocks' unusual offspring. Yet, the broader biblical context, particularly God's later revelation to Jacob in Genesis 31:9-12, reveals that the true agency was divine sovereignty, not the rods themselves. This creates a powerful juxtaposition between human effort and divine power, subtly undermining the efficacy of the folk practice while affirming God's ultimate control. The passage also utilizes Symbolism, where the rods, initially representing Jacob's ingenuity and cultural understanding, ultimately become symbols of God's ability to work through and even transcend human means to fulfill His promises. The "white strakes" themselves can be seen as symbolic of the distinct, separated lineage and prosperity God was providentially creating for Jacob, setting him apart from Laban's deceptive practices.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 30:37, while detailing Jacob's human actions, serves as a profound theological statement about God's unwavering faithfulness and sovereign providence. It underscores that God is not limited by human understanding, cultural practices, or even the deceptive schemes of others. He actively intervenes in the natural world and human affairs to fulfill His covenant promises, ensuring justice and blessing for His chosen people. Jacob's method, whether he fully understood its true efficacy or not, became a vessel through which God demonstrated His power to prosper Jacob and deliver him from Laban's exploitation. This passage highlights that God can use seemingly unconventional or even scientifically inexplicable means to achieve His divine purposes, always working for the good of those He has called.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This narrative offers a compelling lesson for believers today: our ultimate trust must rest in God's sovereign hand, not in our own ingenuity or the methods we employ, however clever or culturally accepted they may be. Jacob's diligent preparation of the rods demonstrates a commendable work ethic and a proactive approach to his circumstances, even if his understanding of cause and effect was flawed. Yet, the biblical emphasis shifts the credit entirely to God, revealing that He was the true orchestrator of Jacob's prosperity. This encourages us to pursue our callings with diligence and creativity, knowing that God can bless and utilize our efforts, even when our understanding is imperfect or our circumstances seem insurmountable. It reminds us that when faced with injustice or exploitation, our hope is in God's ability to intervene on our behalf, bringing about His perfect justice and provision in ways we may not foresee. We are called to act in faith, trusting that God's power transcends all human limitations and machinations.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Did Jacob's rods actually cause the animals to be speckled?
Answer: No, the biblical narrative explicitly clarifies that the success of Jacob's method was not due to the rods themselves or any inherent power in the ancient folk practice of "maternal impression." While Jacob acted on this cultural belief, the text unequivocally attributes the outcome to God's direct intervention. God later revealed to Jacob in a dream, as recorded in Genesis 31:9-12, that He was supernaturally causing the flocks to produce the desired speckled, spotted, and striped offspring. This divine action was a deliberate act of justice, ensuring Jacob received his rightful wages and thwarting Laban's repeated deceit. Thus, the rods were part of Jacob's human effort and faith, but God was the true agent of change and the source of his prosperity.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Jacob's prosperity, secured through divine intervention despite human limitations and Laban's persistent deceit, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate provision and blessing found in Jesus Christ. Just as God faithfully upheld His covenant with Jacob, ensuring his inheritance and the miraculous growth of his household, so too does Christ secure the spiritual inheritance and abundant life for all who are in Him. He is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises, providing true justice and an unshakeable covenant that no human trickery or earthly power can undermine. Through His atoning work, Christ has overcome the deceit of sin and death, triumphing over all spiritual powers (as seen in Colossians 2:15). Believers, through faith in Him, become heirs of an eternal inheritance (as promised in Ephesians 1:11), receiving spiritual prosperity and an everlasting covenant relationship that far surpasses any earthly flock or material wealth. Christ's unwavering faithfulness ensures that those who are His will never be abandoned, but will always receive divine provision and justice, leading them into the fullness of life He offers (as declared in John 10:10).