Two wealthy sisters: one loved, one fulfilled. But sibling rivalry ripped them apart and brought much grief.
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 30:5-9
“And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.”
Ouch!
Do we now see the real motive behind Rachel’s passion for a child?
To be fair, she would have been grieving her barrenness in a culture where a woman’s identity is largely based upon motherhood. But here she bluntly says, “I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” Wow!
What a family: First Jacob diddles his brother out of his inheritance, and now Rachel competes with her sister over children.
Wait and see how Leah responds!
Love
I can’t help wondering: were these boys loved? Or were they merely vehicles for competition between the sisters?
And what about the maids? Did they raise their children as their own or where they pawns in the hands of Jacob’s wives?
Love covers a multitude of sin (1 Peter 4:8); and yet a lack of love causes so much strife.
Strife
Rachel was loved by Jacob. There’s no telling how life might have been if Laban had just allowed Jacob to marry her without any interference. But her bitter — or desperate — heart caused a great deal of strife in that family. She must have been so very grieved. And yet, her bitter heart caused greater misery.
Leah had the assurance that her boys would follow their father, would bring her pride and acceptance. Rachel strived for children to show up her sister. And yet, she was missing the most important thing: Jacob loved her.
Let’s not miss the main point
Life doesn’t always turn out how we’d like. But if we move forward in spite of our disappointments, rather than in spite toward others, we will grow in grace and live happier lives.
Rachel has a short life. I wonder how much strife was — ultimately — a cause for her early death.
Let’s roll with the punches rather than stew in bitterness. Joy will come “in the morning”… It even came for Rachel eventually, as we shall see.
Let the story continue to unfold…