Hard Labor
Genesis 35: 16 Then they journeyed
from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel
labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17 Now
it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do
not fear; you will have this son also.” 18 And
so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his
name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel
died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 And
Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of
Rachel’s grave to this day.
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After GOD changed Jacob’s name to Israel, Jacob and his
family traveled towards Ephrath. On the way, Rachel gave birth to a child. The
child labor was hard. Rachel died.
My Observations:
- Rachel
called the child “Son of my sorrow” but Jacob named him “Son of my right
hand.”
- Ephrath
is really Bethlehem, where JESUS took human form as a baby.
- Jacob
lost the woman he loved the most.
Benjamin was born out of very difficult times. Rachel must
have been pregnant when they went to Bethel . Jacob had a discussion with GOD
and probably felt better. He was assured that GOD’s covenant with him still
stood. But tragedy happened when Rachel died giving birth to his last son.
Rachel had difficulty in childbirth. From being
supernaturally barren, to delivering Joseph and Benjamin, Rachel struggled and
eventually lost her life. This blessed time was full of sorrow. Jacob made sure
that people would not be reminded of sorrow so he named the child Benjamin.
Challenge
- Why
does GOD tell moses about Rachel’s hard labor?
- Have
you ever experienced a difficult situation and allowed it to play over and
over in your mind?
- Will
you let the situation go and rename it so it will no longer have power
over you?
