Death of Rachel (Gen. 18a-19)

04/26/2007

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Death of Rachel

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Genesis 18a-19

            Message of the verses:  “18 It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

            Dr. Wiersbe points out that one statement and one act did not necessarily mean that that was the reason for the death of Rachel.  I believe that in yesterday’s SD I pointed out that it was very possible that Rachel died because she had not owned up to stealing her father’s idols and that Jacob said that if anyone had them they would die.  Now Dr. Wiersbe does not support this idea that was actually learned from one of the historical novels that I have been reading, of which have a great deal of truth in them.

            At any rate Rachel does die giving birth to Jacob’s 12th son and now Jacob will be the one who names the child, or renames him as will be seen in the next exciting issue of my Spiritual Diaries.

            Spiritual meaning for my life:  I guess the conclusion to this is that I don’t know whether or not Rachel died because of her sin of lying or if it was in God’s plans that she would die at this time.  I think that there are times when people do die because of lying as seen in Acts chapter five, but the bottom line is what is going on in the heart of the person is how I see it, for if a person would die for lying none of us would have a chance, and the human race would never have gotten this far.  The good news is that the Lord Jesus Christ died for all of my sins and loves me enough to bring trials into my life in order for me to become more conformed to Him.

The Word of God has been challenging to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust in the Lord alone for the victory over this trial that He has seen fit to send into our lives.  To trust the Lord with all of my heart, and not lean on my own understanding, but in all of my way acknowledge Him, and then He has promised to direct my path.  I want to lean on God’s promises and not ask why as to why these trials have come my way.

Memory verses for the week:  “Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, ‘O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!’”  2Chronicles 14:11