Envious Plan

Envious Plan

Genesis 30: Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”

 

² And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

 

³ So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.” ⁴ Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her. ⁵ And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. ⁶ 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. ⁷ And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. ⁸ Then Rachel said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.

 

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At least four years had passed and Rachel was still barren. Leah had four children, causing envy within Rachel. She approached Jacob with the problem, as if to say “Do something about this!” She came up with the same plan Sarah developed when she was barren. “Go into my handmaid and bear a child.”

 

My Observations:

• Rachel’s envious plan did not include direction from GOD, but received HIS grace.
• Rachel believed she owned Bilhah, therefore she believed she owned her child.
• Bilhah gave birth to two sons, Dan and Naphtali, who would become great nations.

 

Hearing about GOD’s plans and seeing HIS timeline would make anyone anxious. Jacob was told from birth that he would be the one GOD would bless. He had to serve for at least fourteen years just to marry Rachel. Then, four years later, still no child. Meanwhile, Leah was having children left and right.

 

GOD was not being mean, nor was he punishing Rachel. HE had a timeline planned for her, that she could not accept. GOD knew she would be impatient, like you and me. HE blessed Bilhah to have children.  Little did they know, Jacob’s children would be a problem later on.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD go into detail about the conversation between Rachel and Jacob to Moses?
• Have you ever doubted GOD’s existing plan for you and felt you needed to come up with a plan that would hurry up the process?
• Can you wait for GOD’s timing on the great and gracious plan HE has for you?