Jacob loved Rachel, and had to be tricked into marrying Leah. If Jacob had had his way, Rachel would have been his only wife, and thus he would only have had two sons. But God had other plans – He wanted Jacob’s family to become a great nation. Jacob doubtless wanted to live a long time with his beloved Rachel, but God had other plans. She died while giving birth to her second son.
What do we do when God’s plans run so contrary to our deepest desires? Do we become frustrated or bitter? Rachel seems to have been headed down that road, as she wanted to name her second child “Son of My Sorrow.” Hers was a backward glance, reflecting her disappointment.
Jacob chose the higher and harder road. He insisted on naming the child Benjamin, “Son of My Right Hand.” Even while he was losing the love of his life, he was planning to bless his youngest son greatly, and to depend on him. Jacob was thus looking to the future, seeking to find a blessing and to be a blessing to Benjamin in the midst of great tragedy.
This is the same road Jesus chose. Instead of dwelling on the monstrous injustice of the cross, He endured a painful and shameful death in order to bring the greatest blessing to us, salvation and freedom from sin and death. And He calls all who follow Him to do the same sort of thing – to die to ourselves and to live for others, loving them as He has loved us.
So, instead of dwelling on what we might have lost, let us follow Jesus, trusting Him even in the midst of our greatest sorrows, acknowledging Him as our greatest blessing. And we just might find that following Him in this way, seeking to be a blessing to others even in the midst of our pain, is the best medicine for grief after all.
Genesis 30:22-24 (KJV)
22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.
Genesis 35:16-20 (KJV)
16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.
