In God's Eyes - Pt 7

Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. (Genesis 35:16-20 ESV). Yesterday we looked at Leah; today we will see her sister, Rachel. She was the opposite of Leah in many ways. She would have done well in the media of today. She was beautiful and confident in her ability to use her physical appearance in a way that most benefited her goals and objectives. Jacob was swept away by her charm and physical beauty. He was even willing to take her less attractive sister to gain her as his wife. But Jacob got more than he bargained for. Rachel could be a monster when she didn’t get her own way, and even when she did. She had a horrible fight with Jacob when he couldn’t make her pregnant, demanding that he give her a son (cf. Genesis 30:1). She schemed to get children through her handmaid. And when the Lord finally did bless her with Joseph, her first words were: “I want another one,” which is actually the meaning of “Joseph” (cf. Genesis 30:24). The Lord gave her another child. As she was giving birth, she realized she was dying, so she named this son “Ben-oni,” meaning “son of my sorrow” (cf. Genesis 35:18). Her story is one of extremes. She knew great joy and great sadness; however, she doesn’t seem to have known satisfaction or contentment. Rachel had so much going for her, including a husband who adored her. But she was angry, deceitful, spiteful, and jealous, and a deeply unhappy woman. Her exterior beauty hid an interior discontent. She was without peace. We, too, easily look at the surface of things, but it is the heart that matters. Peace within can only come from the Prince of Peace, who gives us the peace that passes understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This is what the Apostle Paul meant when he closes his letter to the Philippians: Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7 ESV). Who are you trusting to bring peace to your life? Only Jesus will do.