Hi GA, good to see you again. To answer the Q, these were very different days to 2020, attitudes, priorities etc have changed over the last 5000 years. In those days communities were based upon clans; clans were often extended families and so if you were the head of a clan you were like a minor royal, very important and much revered. If you read Genesis 22, the account of Abraham nearly offering Isaac up to God as a human sacrifice, God was so touched and impressed by that sort of obedience that His reward to Abraham was to promise him he'd head up a clan more numerous than the stars in the sky (BTW NASA estimates that at 100,000,000). In fact God came good on that promise x 3 in that Jews, Muslims (via Ishmael) and Christians all trace their roots back to Abraham. The moral from the story is that God absolutely delights in our obedience and love for Him, and 2nd, this was a rehearsal that was to be played out 3000 years later but the Son was actually killed during the sacrifice. These days being the head of a vast family or clan is seen as far less desirable than a flash car, gorgeous house, a kettle that matches the microwave and over 4000 friends on Facebook!
With regards to Rachel and Leah, this is a love story in which two swindlers got together and one tried to get one over on the other. The two girls fell for Jacob, maybe a lovable rogue. I think Jacob loved both but one more than the other which is a bit sad but Jacob was a very much flawed character. It took direct intervention by God in Genesis 32:22-32 where he wrestles with God, many say Jesus. Thereafter his whole character seems to change and he becomes a lot more amenable.
There are very few Bible characters that qualify as role models. Most are flawed as we all are and yet God is able to use them to shape history to His will.
Keep persevering with your Bible study but please bear in mind these Bible heroes are mostly just regular guys like you and me. The Bible is so different from Marvel comics.
God bless you xxx
