Rachel’s Fourteen

Rachel’s Fourteen

Genesis 46: ¹⁹ The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, were Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁰ And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. ²¹ The sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. ²² These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all.

 

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Jacob was told to go away from the women who were around him in the land of the Philistines. He was sent to Rebekah’s brother Laban to look for a wife. He fell in love at the first sight of Rachel. But he was given Leah as a wife because it was tradition. Jacob worked another seven years to finally marry Rachel.

 

My Observations:

• Rachel was the only woman labeled as Jacob’s wife.
• Rachel believed in household gods and magic from mandrakes.
• Rachel was barren the longest and died when she had benjamin.

 

Joseph and Benjamin were special to Jacob because he loved Rachel. He treated them differently than his other sons. This unequal treatment would cause jealousy amongst his sons that would cause Joseph to be sold into slavery, but ultimately rule Egypt.

 

Rachel did not raise Benjamin and barely raised Joseph who was a young teen when she died. Rachel did not experience her nephews attempted murder like Jacob. But she did experience the pain of watching everyone else have children when her husband was supposed to be the one who would produce many nations. GOD kept HIS promise, but not he way she thought.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Rachel being Jacob’s wife?
• What promise has GOD made to you that may look different than you think?
• Has GOD appointed you for something special but it looks way different than what you are used to?