One thought from a friend
1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!"
2 Jacob became angry with her and said, "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?"
Man, how familiar does this conversation sound. I was reading this story about my namesake today, it blew me away with how often we approach God in the same way. We see this thing that we think we need to live: maybe a sense of accomplishment, a feeling you are doing the right thing, a thriving ministry, that girl or guy you are interested in, passing the test or getting that "atta boy" from your boss or parent, your children to obey, or even a satisfied feeling you are impacting lives....all of these are great things...Rachel's desire for a child was not a bad one, but it had so consumed her life that she was not loving to her husband, and was willing to go to any lengths to one up her sister and get what she so desperately wanted(even brought her maid into the equation, yikes). I think if we take an honest look at our hearts we see the same thing.
I love how Jacob said, God has kept you from having children. When you first skim over it it seems kinda harsh, like God is mean or something. But, it got me thinking, what things is God witholding from my life that I really think I need, that I obviously dont, because God promises to provide all of our needs in Jesus Christ, and is also a Good Father who doesnt not give us stones in the place of bread. Maybe it's because I dont need it, maybe it is because he wants to teach me patience in waiting on Him, maybe its because he wants to make me long for my eternal home instead of wanting to adorn my earthly home with "trinkets". God loves us so much, despite our demands to "GIMME, GIMME,"....Praise God that He is not done with us yet, and whose every move toward us is full of mercy. He is worthy of praise....
Let's pray that we can honestly say, GIVE ME MORE OF CHRIST OR I WILL DIE!"
His,
Rachel
2 Jacob became angry with her and said, "Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?"
Man, how familiar does this conversation sound. I was reading this story about my namesake today, it blew me away with how often we approach God in the same way. We see this thing that we think we need to live: maybe a sense of accomplishment, a feeling you are doing the right thing, a thriving ministry, that girl or guy you are interested in, passing the test or getting that "atta boy" from your boss or parent, your children to obey, or even a satisfied feeling you are impacting lives....all of these are great things...Rachel's desire for a child was not a bad one, but it had so consumed her life that she was not loving to her husband, and was willing to go to any lengths to one up her sister and get what she so desperately wanted(even brought her maid into the equation, yikes). I think if we take an honest look at our hearts we see the same thing.
I love how Jacob said, God has kept you from having children. When you first skim over it it seems kinda harsh, like God is mean or something. But, it got me thinking, what things is God witholding from my life that I really think I need, that I obviously dont, because God promises to provide all of our needs in Jesus Christ, and is also a Good Father who doesnt not give us stones in the place of bread. Maybe it's because I dont need it, maybe it is because he wants to teach me patience in waiting on Him, maybe its because he wants to make me long for my eternal home instead of wanting to adorn my earthly home with "trinkets". God loves us so much, despite our demands to "GIMME, GIMME,"....Praise God that He is not done with us yet, and whose every move toward us is full of mercy. He is worthy of praise....
Let's pray that we can honestly say, GIVE ME MORE OF CHRIST OR I WILL DIE!"
His,
Rachel
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