Genesis 30:5–6

It is all too sad to see why Rachel resented her own childlessness while her sister had many children. Self was at work in her. It blinded her to what her sister lacked: Jacob's heart, which Rachel alone had. It was envy, that low feeling which cannot bear another — even a sister — having what she had not... But he gave in to her proposal, and takes Bilhah so that she might have children through her maid. Had not Sarah, honoured as she was, done the same? Yes — but through Ishmael, did it not end with both Hagar and her son being driven out?

All this shows what God set up marriage to be: the union of one man and one woman. The two, and only two, become one. What is more than this is not of God, but is of human lust... Jacob's two wives gave their handmaids to their husband, and so he had four wives. God counted the twelve sons of these four women as Jacob's sons, all alike, and they became the heads of the twelve tribes. It might have been thought that God would not have blessed the issue of these unions, but He did.

Then we too often resort to a humanly devised substitute, as Rachel did in verse 3... When a boy was born (vv. 5-6), Rachel said that God had given her a son, and she named him Dan, meaning "judge."... All of this struggle is a picture of the struggle in Romans 7. We try to subdue the evil passions of our hearts, but this only stirs them up.

The names Rachel gave the sons of Bilhah expressed the state of her soul, and toward her sister. Dan and Naphtali do not tell us of grace, but of satisfaction in gaining points of strife on her own part... But God keeps His own right. Every wrong has its effect among men, and it comes under His judgment. Even so, He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, the ones called according to His purpose.

How dreadfully everything has sunk morally since Abraham's time, and even Isaac's. This is not barrenness of the flesh, with God stepping in with promise and power. Instead, oh, what a scene of selfishness, jealousies, and scheming... So Rachel here, even in her special circumstances, has no thought of Jehovah's ways. She says, "God has judged me." It stays that way all the way through, until grace softens her heart. Then she says, in faith, "Jehovah will add."

Dan was the first son of Rachel's maid Bilhah... Looking ahead, this brings us to the time when Israel governs itself again... It seems likely the antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan, since Revelation 7 leaves Dan out of the 144,000... Yet even so, Dan will have his place in the blessing of the millennium.

Then we too often turn to a substitute of our own devising, as Rachel did. Sarah had done the same when she gave Abraham her servant to have a child by her. Rachel ought to have known that this did not work out as Sarah planned. But she thought, as Sarah did, that the children of Bilhah, her servant, would be hers. When a boy was born, Rachel said that God had given her a son, and she named him Dan, meaning "judge."

It was envy. That low feeling cannot bear another person — even a sister — having what she did not have. It broke out in unreasonable and irreverent complaining to her husband, as if her barrenness were his fault... But he gave in to her proposal, and took Bilhah so that she might have children through her maid. Had not Sarah, who was honoured, done the same? Yes, but through Ishmael did it not end with both Hagar and her son being sent away?... How different from Hannah, sorrowful under Peninnah's taunts... She broke out into no improper complaints against her husband. She wept and prayed and made a vow to Jehovah, and the God of Israel heard her.

The names Rachel gave the sons of Bilhah showed the state of her soul, and her feeling toward her sister. Dan and Naphtali do not speak of grace. They speak of her satisfaction at scoring points in the quarrel... But it is God's own right to cause all things to work together for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Every wrong still has its effect among men and its judgment before Him. He at least is good and does good, whatever man has to mourn.

How far everything has sunk, morally, from Abraham's time, and even Isaac's. This is not the barrenness of the flesh, with God stepping in with promise and power. Oh, what a scene of selfishness, jealousy and cunning! There is only one green spot in it — Rachel, the barren one, is heard... So Rachel here, even in her special circumstances, has no thought of Jehovah's ways. She says, "Elohim has judged me," and it is like that all the way through, until grace softens her heart. Then she says, in faith, "Jehovah will add."

It is worth noting that in each case the mother gave the name, and it grew out of her own circumstances and feelings. Jacob does not appear to have had any say in the matter. In this up-and-down stretch of his life there is no record of his having an altar for sacrifice and fellowship with God. Being out of touch, he had no guidance about the names of his children.

Dan's place among the tribes stands for judgment, and that is an honourable place. Yet his later history contradicted the truth of that position. Dan was the first tribe to bring in idolatry openly. What a solemn lesson for us! When we are given the place of judging for God, we may take that authority for ourselves until it amounts to idolatry.

Still, such is the grace of God that in Ezekiel's prophecy of the restoration of the tribes, Dan is the first named and provided for — the worst sinner of all. There the question is not one of service but of mercy... Then at last Jacob's promise comes true, the promise even their wickedness could not cancel: "Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel."