Laban really gave his daughters a raw deal. When he tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, he sentenced both of his girls to one truly heartbreaking marriage. Instead of enjoying sweet accord between husband and wife, both women are crowded into a bitter, vengeful squeeze of marital misery. One wife is just the right number of wives, but one man, two sisters, and their maidservants to boot is a cramped relationship for sure. Indeed, the normal strains of marriage are quite enough without having to engage in a fertility contest with your own sister. A fertility contest that Rachel was losing—the stats were 10 to 0 against Rachel before Joseph was finally born.
Once a month, my husband goes out for an evening with his friends to discuss literature. But by the time he gets home at 10pm I’ve had quite enough of sharing him with others. Marriage is a tight circle of two. Rachel and Leah were both denied the sweet intimacy that can only exist when two people are alone in a marriage. They likely both felt forgotten by both their husband and by God. And forgotten is a feeling that we can all identify with. People will absolutely forget us. Terrible marriages, absent parents, distracted friends, and even children can pass over us as they forge ahead in life.
But there is One who does not forget. God remembers His people. God remembered Rachel (Genesis 20:22). And in Scripture, when it says that God “remembers” someone, it means that He is going to intervene and help. When God remembers, He takes action (Genesis 9:15, 19:29, 30:22; Exodus 2:24, 32:13; Psalms 25:6–7, 74:2). Even though Rachel seems to only be asking Jacob for help, God remembers Rachel. He remembers, He listens, and He opens her womb (Genesis 30:1,22).
In the weirdest and most uncomfortable situations—in the deepest, saddest days—God remembers and listens. It goes without saying that His action may not be what we are asking for or what we think the situation requires, but in His sovereignty, He listens and remembers His people.
Rachel died in childbirth when Benjamin was born. She fought with Leah for her entire married life, and she never got to enjoy watching her own sons grow up. She didn’t get to grow old with the man she loved. It was Leah’s son, Judah, who was in the line of Christ. Rachel’s life probably did not turn out at all like she had hoped. But she was remembered by God.
Life isn’t about us and what we are doing. It is easy to forget that just because things have not gone as we hoped, that does not mean that we are forgotten or abandoned. Indeed, God builds His kingdom even amidst our dashed expectations.
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39 thoughts on "Rachel"
I’ve have been needing these reminders that God will build His kingdom no matter what our circumstances look like. With the state of this world and the evil in it I get overwhelmed by what is happening . I can always rest in our loving God and His promises .
The story of the patriarch and how the 12 tribes came to be…I always shake my head that God would/could use these people. It is difficult to see how we could, in some ways, be as mistaken as Jacob, Rachel and Leah. What a powerful example of how God does not forget His people and promises, and works for good all things – even our most desperate stories – for His glory! As the commentator said, and Dana echoed, “Life isn’t about us and what we are doing. It is easy to forget that just because things have not gone as we hoped, that does not mean that we are forgotten or abandoned. Indeed, God builds His kingdom even amidst our dashed expectations.” Praise Him for His redemption of our stories!
It seems both beautiful and tragic that each of these sisters, Rachel and Leah, felt unseen in their own way. The desire to be seen and heard and known is strong in us. But God saw both of them uniquely. He saw the affliction of Leah. He remembered Rachel. Sometimes I feel unseen and unknown by the people I’m closest to. I resonate with the loneliness and grief that can come from strong desires and hopes being dashed. This was a good reminder for me that I am seen by my Heavenly Father. And his eyes, are the only ones I really need.
This is a great study! I have learned many of my best lessons during periods where life just doesn’t make sense. Yet God has been most present in those times. As Tina would say, but God…. Thankful for His faithfulness.
God can use anything even brokenness and missteps. Joseph would go on to be instrumental in saving lives in the famine and second most powerful in Egypt. God truly knows all and it is right to praise him in every situation. It truly is not all about us.
I’m loving this series so far… I needed to read this today too. :)
Me TOO
“Life isn’t about us and what we are doing. It is easy to forget that just because things have not gone as we hoped, that does not mean that we are forgotten or abandoned. Indeed, God builds His kingdom even amidst our dashed expectations.”
This is hard for me and I wrestle with it often.
Dana, I do as well. I have my own “crushing” circumstances that I am challenged with. Over time I have found that He has given me the grace to live above the situation and more importantly, go deeper in my relationship with Jesus. He is more to me than ever, and I adore Him. It hasn’t been easy but it has been worth it all to get here.
♥️
❤️ thank you, Melissa, for the encouragement to keep my eyes on the One who saved me and my heart open to His love… and for acknowledging that it is not an easy road.
I do too. I guess that’s where Faith is needed.
I remember my mother in law praying the day we buried our stillborn baby for the peace that passes understanding. I felt that. I was brought up Catholic, and didn’t know that scripture. After the burial, I was asked to go to a different church that Sunday. I went, but was so angry. People were praising and clapping their hands, and I looked up and wondered why He would bring me here? One woman caught my attention. She was praising and had a joy about her. I figured her life must be perfect, and that’s why should could sing and clap. That same woman came up to me, and said that she normally doesn’t do this. But God told her to tell me to run to Him and not away. The pastor preached, and the message seemed like it was just for me.(I now know that’s a God thing!) I heard the Gospel and went quickly to the alter. I was in such turmoil after burying my child, I was desperate for more of God’s Word. I went on Tuesday nights and Sundays. Learning about God and Jesus was like my lifeline. I had also been tormented in my mind since I was a child. I blamed myself for most things, and was so afraid of the enemy. God used the same woman to help me. She talked with me, wrote me a letter, and gave me praise music. I listened to tapes about fear from another pastor. I never really knew much about the Bible and had a different picture of God. I thought He would be mad if I didn’t do certain things. I didn’t understand that Jesus took on our sins, and that when we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive. I didn’t understand that you change and don’t want to do certain things anymore because of your love and admiration of God. What He thinks and pleasing Him becomes more important because of love and reverence of our Holy God. I’m grateful that God used people to help me and to guide me to hear His Word. The teachings and songs were so important, I needed that! By the way, the same woman didn’t have a perfect life. She had a miscarriage and money issues too. But, she had the joy of the Lord! This song touches me. https://youtu.be/OqjGT9BSyJA
I wouldn’t have chosen many of the hard and heart breaking times in my life, but God has allowed me to help others including a friend that also went through having a still born baby. I told her that every life has meaning. Even though our children didn’t take a breath outside the womb, their lives had a purpose. She found that comforting. I didn’t come up with that thought on my own. I give God credit for anything good.
Kristen, I was also raised Catholic, and I had such a messed up view of God. It got to the point where I completely denounced His existence at all. Fast forward a few years, and I met a pastor of a Pentecostal church who had also been raised Catholic. He really helped me understand all the hurts in my life weren’t because God was ignoring me. He told me I was disappointed in God…. these words changed me from then on. I started attending church, I gave my life back to God… it wasn’t easy, but over time my relationship with God had only grown stronger. Especially since I found SRT a couple of years ago.