Rachel

Women of the Bible 
Rachel

Scripture References:

Genesis 29-31; 33:1-7; 35:16-26; 46:19-25; 48:7; Ruth 4:11; 1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18

Her History:

Rachel was a shepherdess

The name Rachel means “ewe” a female lamb. It was implied as a term of endearment. As she was a shepherdess, the Lord was her Shepherd!

Rachel was the daughter of Laban, Rebekah’s brother. So Rachel was Rebekah’s niece.

Rachel had two sons: Joseph and Benjamin

Her Romance:

Read Genesis 29:1-20

Rachel was loved greatly and pursued by Jacob.

Just like we saw with Rebekah we see here with Rachel that God brought about an extra ordinary circumstance while Rachel was faithfully doing her daily chores. It is when we are faithful with our every day responsibilities, working at them with all our heart unto the Lord, that God brings about and accomplishes His will in our life naturally.

Rachel wasn’t off on some journey or quest, she was doing what she was supposed to be doing, tending the sheep.

What responsibilities has God called you to be faithful with, in this season in your life? Take a moment to write them down.

God’s desire is that we be faithful with what He has called us to do and work hard at our responsibilities and He will move us forward and onward! God works and moves in the ordinary circumstances of our every day. He is interested more in our CHARACTER than in what we can do and accomplish for Him.

“We are apt to forget that often the most seemingly ordinary incidents in life are as much of the divine plan as the smallest parts of a watch, and upon these smallest parts of the plan all the others depend. Our steps, when ordered by the Lord, lead to great issue.” -Herbert Lockyer

All the little things DO matter to God!

“As I look back over my life, a major testing of my faith came with our three children, and a few years later, a fourth. (Then there was a period later on when we had four teenagers all at once.) I think God had looked down at me and said, “How are We going to get any fruit of the Spirit into this woman? How can We educate her? I know. We’ll send her to the School of Instant and Constant Motherhood. This is a good curriculum for teaching total dependence, patience, kindness, self-control, love -all the fruit of My Spirit.” -Cynthia Heald, A Woman’s Journey to the Heart of God

In verse 3 we see Jacob went to a well. It is interesting to note that Eliezar, Isaac’s servant, found Rebekah at a well and Jacob encountered Rachel at a well. In Exodus 2:15-21 we read Moses sat down by a well and met Jethro’s seven daughters and married one of them, Zipporah. In the Old Testament you see women finding their future husbands by a well! How much more wonderful the story of Jesus meeting the woman at the well now becomes!

Take a preview of this woman! Read John 4:6-26.

Jesus came and PURSUED this woman. He pursued her heart. In front of everyone He talked with her, He valued her and cared for her. JESUS pursues us! Ask Him to give you eyes to see the ways He is pursuing you!

Jesus wants to intimately pursue you. He knows everything about you but He wants you to know and discover more about Him and how He loves you. He wants to spend time with you so that you will begin to see and discover the ways He loves you!

Jacob waited seven years to marry Rachel.

Waiting is ROMANTIC.

God is waiting for you. Patiently and lovingly God is WAITING for you to discover His love.

Read Romans 8:35-39

What emotions do these scriptures invoke in you?

Read Ephesians 3:14-21.

Are you ready to begin a journey in love with Jesus? He wants to pursue you that you may discover the abundant love He has for you. He wants to give you stories.

Her Marriage:

Read Genesis 29:21-30; 30:1-2

Unfortunately, Rachel’s marriage had a whole lot of drama. What is unveiled through these verses is that Jacobs amazing love for Rachel wasn’t enough. A man’s love and pursuit is not enough to satisfy us!

Colossians 2:10 NKJV

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Psalm 145:16 NKJV

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Psalm 81:10 NASB

I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

Isaiah 55:2 NKJV

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Isaiah 58:11 NKJV

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Rachel said “Give me children, or else I die!” Her being was bound up in having children and she was hurting Jacob because he felt his love wasn’t enough for her...because it wasn’t!

When the Lord did provide her with children, she died in giving birth to Benjamin, her second baby boy. In labor she named him “Benoni” which means “son of sorrow”. Children do not satisfy the longings of our heart. Children can bring pain and sorrow to our hearts. Only Jesus satisfies.

Her temptations:

Genesis 30:1 “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister;”

Rachel had given into jealousy. A very ugly and ungodly characteristic! Leah was jealous of Jacob’s love for Rachel and Rachel was jealous of Leah’s fertile womb.

As sisters in Christ we are to love each other. We are to rejoice with our sister who is rejoicing and weep with our sister who is weeping (Romans 12:15)

The woman who is secure in the Lord’s love and her identity in Christ can point out the wonderful qualities and talents her sisters in Christ have and encourage and love them. NOT pointing out her flaws or making a slight jab or a joke to her, especially in front of others.

Here are examples of what not to say compared to the right heart attitude:

Wrong -“She is a little consumed with her appearance.” Right- “Wow, she is so beautiful and takes good care of herself.”

Wrong - “She puts her children before her husband.” Right-“She has such a great ability to love children.”

Wrong - “She’s always at home and never gets together with us.” Right- “She is a great homemaker and has such peace in her home.”

Wrong - “She has her priorities out of whack” Right-“God has opened opportunities for her in her workplace. How exciting!”

Her motherhood:

Children are God’s gift to give!

Rachel turned her cry for children into prayer. Genesis 30:22 “Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb.”

Rachel’s was the first recorded instance in the Bible of death through childbirth.

Read Jeremiah 31:15 and Matthew 2:18

“Rachel’s cry for children was prophetic of the slaughter of the innocents when Christ was born (Matthew 2:16-18). Jeremiah pictures Rachel as rising from the grave to weep over the children being carried away to Babylon, never to return (Jeremiah 31:15). Thus the ‘Benoni’ of Rachel’s heart as she died has been re-echoed throughout the entire history of Israel.” –Herbert Lockyer

Life Lesson:

Only Jesus satisfies!

Psalm 62:5 NKJV

My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.

Psalm 86:10 NKJV

For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.