Rachel: Women In The Bible Week 4

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"When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren."          Genesis 29 v 31

"When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob "Give me children or I shall die!" Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel."

"In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes." But she said to her"Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?" "

"Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said "God has taken away my reproach." And she called his name Joseph saying, "May the Lord add to me another son!" 

(Segments from Genesis 30 v 1-24)

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All while Leah was the fertile wife as we read about last week, Rachel was infertile, Jacob's sister wives both walked through times of hurt, pain and comparison. 

Reuben, Leah's first child brings mandrakes in from the fields to his mother. Mandrakes are also known as "love apples" and are believed to be helpful in conception. Rachel who at this time was so desperate for even one child compared to her sister's four, offers Jacob to Leah for one night in return for some apples. - crazy right?! 

However the mandrakes didn't work, they did nothing in this time Rachel felt even more forgotten, worthless and un needed. The world has all kinds of ideas on what makes someone worthy and in this time is was based of the number of children they had. 

Although in verse 22 it says "God remembered Rachel, listened to her and opened her womb." God remembered Rachel just like God remembered Noah, God remembered Abraham, and when God remembers someone it is followed by a kind act, something beneficial to them and his plan. 

Now God had never forgotten Rachel but the remembering in this instance meant an act of 'blessing' God had treasured Rachel all along, her worth to God never came from her abilities or her beauty, her worth in the world may have changed but her true worth never wavered. 

You may feel forgotten but God has never forgotten you. 

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