The Community’s Most Shared Reading
Open Your Bible
Genesis 30:1-24, Genesis 35:16-20, Psalm 98:1-3, Hebrews 4:16
BY Rebecca Faires
For Day 4 of our 2019 Wrapped plan, we asked our Social Media Manager to uncover the community’s most shared reading of 2019. This reading comes from our summer study, Women and Men in the Word: Old Testament and tells the story of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, and her struggle to bear children for him.
Women and Men in the Word: Old Testament Day 12 | Rachel
Laban really gave his daughters a raw deal. He tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, sentencing both of his girls to one truly heartbreaking marriage. Instead of enjoying sweet accord between husband and wife, both women got 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 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, it is God who 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. She didn’t get to grow old with the man she loved. It was Leah’s son, Judah, whose descendants formed 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.
56 thoughts on "The Community’s Most Shared Reading"
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I imagine my view of feeling forgotten will continue to need pruning as this road of sanctification continues. However, at the moment, I’ve come to embrace a ‘both-and’ perspective rather than ‘either-or’. Through many times seeking the Lord on these longings for human connection, I have found him to both draw my heart to remembering that he doesn’t forget his children and to acknowledge that humans forgetting one another is something to grieve. I have forgotten others and others have forgotten me. Through Christ, however, we are called to love one another sacrificially which would mean to not only to long for one another, but also to remember one another in an active way. Yet, in this call to extravagant love, we cannot do it unless we abide in Christ. So, my prayer for my own heart, mind and soul is to remain so connected to The Vine that the love that is active pours out of me with a great hope that God will bless the steps taken with a supernatural power that goes beyond my physical limitations. I pray this for all of you as well!
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I appreciate your insight on having a “both-and” perspective. That puts into words what I’ve been considering as well! I may truly have been forgotten by people AND God sees, knows, and remembers. Things may not have gone as I’d hoped AND God, in love, is still working things out according to his good purposes. Praying along with you!
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So good to see you Tina! Your insight has been missed! ❤️
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I appreciate the thought that when God remembers you, he’s actually helping and taking action. His remembrance is not just a passing thought or something stale. I love the visual in Isaiah 30 – God’s always working despite what we see. And when we are patient and trusting, we are the lucky ones!
“But GOD ’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. GOD takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.”
Isaiah 30:18 MSG -
Bridgetown church has a great sermon posted on their podcast about Rachel and Leah. It’s definitely worth a listen if you like podcasts!
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God “remembers” you and I. Such comfort this morning. And confirmation reminding me I am not alone. YOU my dear sisters are not alone. I went to bed last night after having a dear friend pray for me due to some unexpected news causing anxiety. (Sigh)!
As I take a deep breath I am reminded (again) that God “remembers” and HE is in control. -
This was something I needed to read … I do often feel forgotten and alone. Or like I’m losing a race I never even knew that I entered.
Being single, still, at 35 is not what I envisioned for my life when I was younger. And it honestly just hurts sometimes, the loneliness.
It’s good to be reminded that God hasn’t forgotten me. His answer may not be what I want to hear, but he is there. And today, that’s enough. -
I love this idea that when “God remembers”, He is taking action. This will stick with me as we begin a new year.
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Amen. This was so touching to me. Even when things look like they are not what we planned, God remembers us and all of this He knew before we even walked through it. Hallelujah.
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