Genesis 30:1

Do you see what is happening here? While the one is in anguish that she does not have the love of the other, the other is in anguish and envy because she is not bearing children to the one that she loves. Were these gals having lessons to learn? Was God teaching them things? Was God leaving (to you and me) a record that multiple marriages, polygamy, is not the way to go? Is He showing us that this kind of situation is not going to bear good fruit? I will tell you, it would take someone either completely oblivious to what was going on, or somebody who did not care and was cold and hardhearted, to live through such a situation without recognizing the kind of fruit it was producing.

Here is an outburst that I think indicates the depth of her bitter anguish over her being barren. But, brethren, I think it also ought to serve as a reminder to us to watch what we say, even in moments of anguish; because what she said was exactly what happened. God, indeed, gave her children—two of them. And what happened while she was having the second one? She died.

Genesis 30:1-3

That is exactly what Sarah did. Again, records that have been dug up indicate that this was a very widely-accepted practice. I tried to find out what this means, “and she will bear a child on my knees.” Well, the indication is that as part of the legal process of making the child legally the mistress of the house and not the handmaiden. When the handmaiden was delivering the baby, she actually had to be sitting on the mistresses lap. It almost gives the appearance that the baby was coming from the mistress.

Genesis 30:1

Despite having Jacob's love, she envied her sister who was able to produce children and she desperately pleads with Jacob and Jacob responds. Now he was angry.