Rachel was the wife of Jacob, the son of Isaac, and the grandson of Abraham. Jacob loved Rachel so much that he worked for Laban, her father for a total period of 14 years as a sort of dowry for Rachel. Jacob was initially supposed to work for 7 years in order to have Rachel as wife. But at the end of 7 years, he was deceitfully given, Leah, Rachel’s elder sister as wife.
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“And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son: and said, God hath taken away my reproach” -Genesis 30:22-23
This was because of a tradition that forbade giving a younger sister in marriage before the elder sister.
Unfortunately, when Jacob eventually achieved his goal of having Rachel as his wife, she was not able to conceive and bear a child for him. Rachel was barren. This bareness lasted several years during which Leah, her elder sister conceived and bore six sons and a daughter for Jacob.
During this period of Rachel’s bareness, Jacob also took two other women as his wives. These include Rachel’s handmaid- Bilhah, and Leah’s handmaid -Zilpah.
Rachel handed over her handmaid to Jacob in order to cover up the shame of her bareness. Rachel thought that if she was not able to bear a child for her husband, at worst Bilhah her handmaid should be able to do this. Bilhah eventually bore two sons for Jacob.
The story did not end there. When Leah discovered that she had passed child bearing age, and that Rachel had given her hand maid to Jacob as wife, She (Leah) decided to follow suit and also gave her hand maid-Zilpah to Jacob as wife.
Zilpah bore two sons for Jacob. It was only afterwards that “God remembered Rachel and God hearkened to her and opened her womb”, and she bore Joseph .
What do I want to bring out from this passage? It is the fact that Rachel faced a lot of shame, reproach, indignity, and mockery in her long years of bareness before…God remembered her and she conceived Joseph who eventually became the greatest of the children and in fact through whom the Jacob’s race was preserved.
The shame and affliction Rachel faced was frustrating and depressing. At a point she wanted to commit suicide. “And Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die” –Genesis 30:1
Imagine a situation she faced. She was loved more than her elder sister, yet she was barren. A total of 11 children were given to birth in her presence, yet she remained barren. Imagine the afflictions she went through witnessing those naming ceremonies and seeing the children grow up.
Naturally she would be filled with envy and jealously because of her own bareness. What must have made matters worst was that even slaves were conceiving and bearing children for Jacob, yet She who was “beautiful” (Genesis 29:17) than all the rest could not produce an offspring. She must have thought what offence did I commit that made me barren?
Am I cursed to be barren? Why is my case like this? Am I going to die a barren woman? Wouldn’t it be better to commit suicide and end the story of my life instead of living a life of bareness, shame and reproach?
Fortunately, the Bible has this to say that Rachel lifted her eyes to God in prayers during these trying times. If she had not, the Bible would not have said in Genesis 30:22: that “God hearkened to her” I guess God will only hearken to someone calling his name.
I believe some one reading this message is in a similar situation like Rachel was. Your bareness may not be as a result of inability to conceive. You may be financially or spiritually barren. You might have started a business for a long time yet it remains unfruitful. You may be encountering the shame Rachel faced, because those who started years after you, including those you trained are now a success.
Moreover, you may be at the edge of taking a fatal decision. Rachel said to her husband: Give me children, or else I die. You may be saying to yourself, if I don’t achieve this goal in few months time, I will commit suicide. Such could be the desperation and frustration you are experiencing as a result of long years of failures and bareness.
The good news I have for you today is that help is on the way do not lose all hope. If only you can trust in God and cry unto him as Rachel did, God will remember you and hearken unto you. God remembered Rachel after long years of bareness; the same God will remember you today and make you fruitful in your endeavors, is it financial, academic, or professional.
However, Rachel was able to overcome her miserly because she knew God and cried unto him. If you do not God, you will neither know how to cry unto him nor will He answer you even if you choose to cry.
So the first step in coming out of that affliction is starting a personal relationship with God. This you can do by accepting his plan for the salvation of the whole world through Jesus Christ his son.
Do you wish to repent of your little sins today? Do you want to be reconciled with God, through Jesus the Lord and Saviour? Then say this simple prayer:
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory. I genuinely repent from all my sins and pledge to go and sin no more. I accept your plan to reconcile mankind to you through Jesus Christ, who you sent in your name.
I believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and died on the Cross to pay the penalty for my sins and redeem me. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I pray that His blood washes my sins away. I invite the Holy Spirit to rule my Life. I am born again in Jesus name.
If you want more information on how you can build a new life with God, visit Save the World at http://www.christonline.info or send an email to: info@christonline.info
I like this article for 1) I was named after Rachel, and 2) I know her story as if it were my own, not conceiving persay, rather asking without faith behind it….God is my savior, but I do not know him in the way I would want, I am very confused, and I feel I am being tried. So many things could tear me down like the walls of Jericho, but for some reason, that which is beyond me, I am put, I am resistent to defeat. There is something that I am lacking, but I believe that when my faith is confirmed in Jesus Christ, and I have meaning behind it, of course for reasons unbeknownst to me I will accept what is right now…and continue to do so, I will receive just like rachel did
I was beptized as Rachel…I trust in God and cry unto him as Rachel did, God remember me . God remembered Rachel after long years of bareness; the same God will remembered me today and made me fruitful in my endeavors, is it financial, and family
Me Rachel was able to overcome my miserlies because i knew God and cried unto him. If I did not know God, i will neither know how to cry unto him nor will He answer me even if i choose to cry.God loves me more than my parents..he is there when i ever i cried… I LOVE YOU JESUS..
Sister Sunsheela, Your testimony is encouraging
I too may be a barren woman. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for a few years. I actually find it an honor to be going through the same plight Rachel endured. I am so encouraged in knowing I am not alone. In addition to Rachel, Rebekah, Sarah, and Elizabeth were not able to have children, until God blessed them with miracle babies. There is no ‘Plan B’ when it comes to God, only a ‘Plan A,’ and our life testimonies exist for a reason known only to Him. May all of us women who have been unsuccessful in conceiving find comfort in knowing God has an ultimate plan for our lives.
Beautiful article. Thank you for sharing.
I am also a Rachel, unable to have children. But in my pain God did something amazing. He opened my heart to other people’s children. We adopted a son and he has grown to be an amazing young man. I also am drawn to teach and work at VBS in my church. Yes sometimes I wonder, “what if?”. But then all the faces of my “children” come to mind and wipe away my tears.
This is truly a timeless message, thx for sharing!