Mandrakes

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.” - Genesis 30:14 New International Version

I have never seen a mandrake plant. Have you? They are not native to America.

Mandrakes were used for magic and medicine to increase fertility. Rachel and her sister

Leah had an intense rivalry born of the fact that they were both married to the same

man, Jacob. Leah could never compete with Rachel for Jacob’s favor. And Rachel

could never compete with Leah in having children.

At the time Rachel asks for mandrakes, Jacob already has 8 children and Rachel has

none. So when she hears that Leah’s son Reuban has found some mandrakes, she

begs for some. Rachel is desperate. If God won’t give her children, she’ll get them

some other way. Leah gives her the mandrakes but it’s Leah who gets pregnant, not

Rachel. Rachel is distraught.

Have you ever wanted anything so bad you were willing to do anything to get it? And

when that failed, did you give up hope, get angry at God and get even more jealous of

those who had what you wanted? Have you gone out looking for “mandrakes” to get

what you wanted?

In Rachel’s story the mandrake do nothing for her. But then God does. Genesis 30:22

tell us “Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive.”

She gives birth to Joseph not because of mandrakes but because God responded to

her prayers.

Our hope is in God, not in any “mandrakes”. May you pray confidently and with

perseverance.

Mark Miller