Genesis 30:15 | “But Leah said to Rachel, ‘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.'”

The whole of Genesis 30 details the fight between Leah – Reuben’s mother – and her co-wife Rachel. Instead of training Reuben in the way he should go, Leah was preoccupied with fighting with Rachel for Jacob’s affection. Reuben probably brought the love potion to his mother to help her in her fight for his father’s affection.

Jacob was also dragged into the fight between his wives. (Genesis 30:1-2,16) And I ask ‘As the first child, who was old enough to witness all these quarrels, what was the effect on Reuben as a child?’

Jacob eventually got his acts together regarding his household (Genesis 35:2), but by then Reuben’s formative years as a child had been affected. Train your child while there’s still time. And when she is older, you will reap the rewards of godly parenting. Bliss be with you.