The Death of Rachel
Read Genesis 35:15–29. What other woes did Jacob face within his
dysfunctional family?
As soon as Jacob leaves Bethel, three interrelated incidents mark the
last step of his journey toward the Promised Land: Jacob’s last son is
born; Rachel dies; and Reuben, Jacob’s first son by Leah, sleeps with
Jacob’s concubine. Though the text doesn’t say why the young man
would do something so evil, it could have been that he wanted to some-
how defile the birth of Jacob’s last son and to humiliate the memory of
Rachel. We just don’t know.
The birth of Jacob’s last son is linked to Bethlehem (Gen. 35:19),
which is within the confines of the Promised Land. This birth is, then, the
first fulfillment of God’s promise for the future of Israel. The midwife,
prophetically, addresses Rachel with the very words God used to reassure
Abraham: “ ‘Do not fear’ ” (Gen. 35:17, NKJV, compare with Gen. 15:1).
Significantly, Jacob changes the name that the dying Rachel had
given to her son, Ben-Oni, meaning “son of my sorrow” to signify her
pain, into Benjamin, meaning “son of the right hand,” perhaps implying
the direction of the south in order to express his hope in the Promised
Land and all that God said He would do for His people after they had
settled there.
Yet, during this time Reuben has sexual relations with Bilhah, his
father’s concubine and Rachel’s maidservant (Gen. 35:25, Gen. 30:3).
We just don’t know why he performed this scandalous act, other than
as another example of human depravity.
Amazingly, Jacob does not respond to this horrible violation, even
though he is told about it (Gen. 35:22). Perhaps at this point in his life,
Jacob trusts that God will fulfill His word despite the sin and evil, at
times, that goes on around him.
It is this precise lesson of faith that is implied in the list of Jacob’s
12 sons, who will be the ancestors of Israel (Gen. 35:22–26)—not the
most savory and kindest of people, as we will see. Yet, despite all the
problems, all the dysfunction, even outright evil, such as Reuben’s sin
with Bilhah, God’s will was going to be fulfilled through this family,
no matter how messed up this family really was.
Despite human error, God’s ultimate purposes will be fulfilled.
Imagine what would happen if people cooperated, if they obeyed
Him. How much more easily—that is, with less human suffering
and stress and delay—could God’s will then be accomplished?
