Women in the Bible - Rachel

When Jacob met Rachel at the well, he was infatuated with her.  She ran home to tell her father all about Jacob.  He stayed with their family for awhile, and during this time he fell deeply in love with Rachel.   

   He asked Rachel’s dad, Laban for permission to marry her.  Laban agreed but Jacob would have to work for him seven years.  Jacob approved and he and Rachel accepted their journey of waiting.

   “Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and she was beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”  Gen: 29:16-18

  Seven years passed but instead of Laban allowing Jacob to marry Rachel, Laban deceived Jacob into marrying his first born, Leah.  Needless to say Jacob was upset.  He had dreamed of the day he and Rachel would be together as man and wife.  Now he had married Leah instead.  However, even though he had to work seven more years, he married Rachel.

   Rachel could not have children, yet Leah had no problem and had several sons.  Rachel was hurt when she could not conceive.  She saw how God had blessed Leah with many children.  No matter how much she prayed to God, He seemed not to hear her prayers.

   Our granddaughter faced many obstacles with her first pregnancy.  She lost her little boy five months into her pregnancy.  Brokenhearted she did not think she could ever have children.  She later had a beautiful baby girl and named her after my grandmother. What a blessing!  What mercy God has extended to those who love Him. 

   “Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive.  She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”  She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”  Gen 30:22-24

    After Laban died, Jacob and his family moved on. Rachel became pregnant again but this time her pregnancy did not go well with her and she died during childbirth. Their son was named Benjamin.