Fear Not

DEVOTION

GENESIS

FEAR NOT

Gen 35:16-20

16 Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. 17 And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for you have another son." 18 As she breathed her last — for she was dying — she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.   19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel's tomb.

NIV

Although we have little to no information from the Bible about Rachel’s age, her birth or age when she was married to Jacob, some rabbinical scholars believe she was thirty-nine when she gave birth to Benjamin and breathed her last. Their studies included the customs of those times as well as some non-biblical writings. Young by any account to die. It is certain Jacob mourned her passing although we are not told so. Yet now the twelve sons of Israel are complete and it was fitting that Rachel would be the woman to complete them. She was Jacob’s first and everlasting love. Benjamin would hold a special place in his heart because of his mother being Rachel and dying in childbirth. What do we learn from this? It is in the words of the midwife? It must have been an extreme childbirth as we are told she was having great difficulty. Women were giving birth since the beginning of time and we have yet to see any reference to them have great difficulty. It is true, because of Eve, women would experience pain in giving birth, but never before have we been told of their having great difficulty to the point of dying as a result. Perhaps Rachel knew this birth would bring her death, her pain was so great, so extreme. The midwife assures her not to be afraid for she has delivered another son for her husband. This could have been a reassurance not to fear the coming death that was upon her. Did her midwife know God? She would have been a part of the household of Israel hearing all that God has done for him. She would have heard of the encounters with God, his promises to Jacob, his changing his name to Israel and of Israel’s faith in God. Were they aware of eternal life? Did God provide this prior to Christ’s sacrifice? We know Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness which could only be seen as the gift of eternal life, for Christ is our righteousness who gives us eternal life. Therefore God could grant eternal life to whomever he pleased whenever he pleased at that time. That being the case would they have been aware of that? We just do not know for certain, yet from this narrative it would appear Rachel should have nothing to fear in breathing her last. Prophetically speaking she had completed the design of God to have the twelve tribes of Israel. This is bore out in Jesus selecting twelve he called to be Apostles, as well as in the Revelation showing us the twenty-four elders, twelve and twelve representing the tribes and the Apostles. It all fits together. Scripture is complete in itself, lacking nothing. But the point here is that Rachel should not fear death, nor should we for we know to whom we belong. We know to where we will go. We know what awaits us in the other side of this life. We also can understand that even in difficulty, great difficulty we should have nothing to fear, for our God is with us. We may not be guaranteed a smooth transition from this life to life eternal. We might have great difficulty in the time of our breathing our last. Sickness or disease could bring the reason for our last breath. We may not simply leave of old age, although that would also be possible. We have been told some of the men of old lived to a good old age when they died. Either way we fear nothing, we do not need to be afraid. The midwife assured Rachel she had given Israel a son. We do not need to be afraid for we are in the Son of God, we are in Christ. Fear not! We have been given tidings of great joy. A Son is born.