14 day plan

Mothers of the Bible

Day 4 of 14

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Genesis 30:1-2

'When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” ' Genesis 30:1-2, NIV 'Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” ' Genesis 30:22-23, NIV

Reflection:

The story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah is not an easy one to read. Two sisters, married to the same man? The elder sister given to the man who was besotted with her beautiful younger sister, without his knowledge, to trick him into working harder and longer for their father? From the outset, it seems a recipe for disaster in terms of the jealousy, competition and strife between sisters and between husband and wives. A recipe made worse by infertility, when children were considered so important and vital for a woman’s worth, status and identity. God had compassion on Leah, since he ‘saw that Leah was not loved’, and he enabled her to conceive children. The names of her sons and their meanings speak of her great desire for her husband’s love, and her understanding that God was watching over her. After her fourth son was born, it seems she had given up seeking her husband’s love and approval; she named him Judah, and said ‘this time I will praise the Lord’ (Gen 29:35). Rachel, on the other hand, had her husband’s love. But it was not enough for her. She placed her husband in God’s place, and demanded in the strongest terms that he give her children! Jacob (quite rightly) points out that he is not ‘in the place of God’, who has kept Rachel from having children. Rachel erred in putting her faith in her husband, instead of acknowledging and trusting in God. This wasn’t the end of Rachel’s story. We are told that ‘God remembered Rachel’, listened to her, and allowed her to conceive. She gave birth to Joseph, and believed that God had taken away her disgrace. 

Do you find yourself like Leah and Rachel, placing more value on human relationships, than your relationship with God? How can we learn to rest in God’s complete love for us, and trust him as the one in control of our lives? 

Prayer:

Loving Father, thank you that we can see your care and concern for both Leah (the unloved wife) and Rachel (who valued her husband more than you) in this passage. Thank you that your love for us is complete. Help us to take comfort in your love, when we struggle in our other relationships. Please help us to always remember that you are in control, and keep you in your rightful place in our lives. Amen. 

Days

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