Originally posted 5/5/24
Have you ever done something that favored one child over another? We are going to look at Rachel’s story in Genesis. She was a young girl who was planning to marry a man. The plans were made and the feast was to begin. At the last minute, her father substituted her sister as the bride instead. Can you imagine how hurt she must have been? Did she know ahead of time that it was going to happen? Was her sister aware of what was going to happen?
In Genesis 28:1-5, Isaac sent Jacob to his Uncle Laban in the land of Paddan-aram in search of a wife. He specifically told Jacob that we was not to marry a Canaanite woman.
We pick up the story in Genesis 29. Jacob arrived in Paddan-aram looking for his uncle. He stopped at the well to water his flock. Rachel arrived at the well with her father’s flock of sheep. Jacob helped roll the stone away from the well so that all the sheep could be watered.
Jacob told Rachel and Laban who he was and he was invited to remain in Laban’s house one month. It was customary for people to begin to help with their keep after three days so Jacob began to work for Laban. In Gen 29:16-18 says, “Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
Rachel was beautiful and Jacob asked for her hand in marriage in exchange for seven years of labor. Jacob loved Rachel and he did it willingly. At the end of the seven years, he asked for Rachel as his wife. We find all of this extremely foreign based on how we select our spouses. Gone are the days of dowries and arranged marriages.
Laban gathered his family together for the wedding feast for Rachel and Jacob. However, there was one major change; Laban did not give his daughter Rachel. He gave his daughter, Leah instead. How on earth could Jacob not recognize the fact that he was marrying the wrong girl? He loved Rachel, but yet he didn’t notice a different bride? Let’s consider the time in history and the customs of the people. The wedding was held in the evening and it would have been very dark. Also at this time brides wore veils hiding her face. I still am not quite sure how he spent time with her in private and didn’t realize it.
Jacob confronted Laban about the deception. Some might see it as ironic that Jacob cheated his brother out of his birthright and this was just payback. Laban knew it was tradition that the oldest daughter got married first. He tells Jacob that in Genesis 29:26, “Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.” Jacob had to work another seven years to marry the love of his life.
It doesn’t take a very smart person to realize that there is going to be trouble for Jacob. Two wives and one husband, what could possibly go wrong? Rachel was the one whom Jacob loved. He did not love Leah. The LORD knew that Leah was not loved and he allowed her to have a child. Genesis 29:31-33 tells us, “When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.”
Leah thought that Jacob would surely love her after she had his child, but that was not the case. However, the LORD continued to bless them with children. Genesis 29:34-35 says, “Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.” She had three sons and yet Rachel was the one who was loved.
The fact that Leah could have children and Rachel could not,
consumed her with jealousy. Rachel took matters into her own hands.
The story continues in Genesis chapter 30. Verse 1-8 where it gets interesting. Genesis 30:1-8, ”When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.”
The conflict between sisters intensifies as Leah gives Jacob her servant. The two ladies are in competition and use their servants to gain more children. The interactions between these two seems so childish. However, nothing good happens with two women and one man. We have to remember that there was status in having children. As the story continues in Genesis 30. Leah and Rachel seem to be bargaining with each other over Jacob. Leah’s motives are revealed in verse 20, “Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” Poor Leah, she gave her husband six sons but still felt unloved.
God finally gave Rachel a son after seven years. Scripture tells us that Joseph was a favorite child of Jacob’s. Genesis 30:22 says, “Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”
Rachel had the love of her life in Jacob. She was deeply loved by him. She lived her life battling insecurities caused by infertility and jealousy towards her sister. It would serve us well to ask if Rachel really trusted God to fulfill His promise to them. Back in Genesis 28:13-14, Jacob received a promise from God. “And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”
Rachel does have another son while they are on their way back to Canaan. The Lord granted her one more child, but it cost her her very life.
Genesis 35:16-20, “Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day.”
How long are we willing to wait for God to fulfill His promises? We see throughout the pages of Scripture where God is faithful and gives us what He promises us. God’s timing is always best. God’s plan is always the best for us. Are we like Rachel taking things into our hands instead of waiting for God’s timing? Do we have the courage to wait on the Lord?
#faith, #Bible, #Scriptures, #Christian Women, #Discipleship, #womenintheBible, #Rachel