May 12 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Genesis 35:16–22

Devotional

There was great joy in Rachel’s heart when Joseph was born. She said, “The LORD shall add to me another son” (Gen. 30:24). The name Joseph means “he who increases.” In that name Rachel expressed a desire that the Lord would give her more sons. The struggle and jealousy between Rachel and Leah is well known. Leah was rejected by her husband and the Lord gave her sons, while Rachel was loved and the Lord closed her womb.

In those days it was a great honor for a mother to have sons. So we can understand Rachel’s cry at the birth of Joseph, her first child, “May the Lord increase.”

Rachel received her wish; a second son was born to her. But how awful was the way in which her desire was fulfilled. For when she received her second son, she died. Man does not know what to desire in life. He can think he desires matters that will increase his happiness but in reality they will lead him to misery. For as soon as Benjamin is born, Rachel dies and the last thing she says is “Benoni; call him Benoni.”

Rachel died while she was still young. She had a difficult life, especially due to strife with her sister. Really, what is life? Psalm 90:10 describes even the best times of life as “labor and sorrow.” Now the end of the struggle between Rachel and Leah has come. The two sisters made life miserable for one another, but death put an end to it. What a lesson we find here! It frequently happens that we spoil one another’s lives because of selfishness and jealousy so that it can be said at deathbeds, “What do they now have left?” Death brings an end to all fighting and jealousy.

Rachel first wept because she had no children and refused to be comforted. Now she had two children, but heaves a final sigh. Her wish was fulfilled but it was at the expense of her life. She gave life and God took life. If Rachel had only been submissive to God she would have had a more pleasant life. Those who cannot submit to God’s dealings have a hard life. Rachel died. Scripture is silent on whether she was born again and, therefore, we should be also. She died, and what a terrible death it was. For her final words were “Benoni,” meaning “son of my sorrow, child of my misery, child of my death.” Jacob closes the eyes of his beloved wife Rachel. We can be sure that Jacob grieved greatly in losing his dear Rachel.

Did Jacob refuse to be comforted? No, Jacob received strength in God. Rachel had cried out in anguish, but Jacob spoke by faith. He said the child will not be called Benoni, but he will be called Benjamin, meaning “son of my right hand.” Jacob submitted to the Lord’s ways in his life. He saw a twelfth child—a son of joy and a son of prosperity. Jacob looked to God’s goodness and not to the misery. In spite of his grief he looked up on high. That is what faith does. It looks to the Lord.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.