From the Bible
I was questioned tonight about the meaning of my name... I sort of knew the story but couldn't really tell it. So tonight I'm posting what the Bible actually says about Rachael... From the New Living Translation. And in the NLT they spell my name "Rachel" but I'm sure I'll end up typing out how I spell my name.
This is my summarized version of it:
Leah and Rachael were the daughters of Laban. One day Jacob (son of Rebekah and Isaac) came over to Laban's land and saw Rachael. He kissed her on the first day and began to cry. He asked for Rachael's hand in marriage from Laban but didn't have any $ for her dowry so he agreed to work for Laban for 7 years in order to marry Rachael. He worked 7 years and was then surprised with the law that the eldest daughter must be married off first (this being Leah). He married Leah and agreed to work 7 more years in order to marry Rachael. Later on.....
Leah and Jacob had a total of 6 sons and 1 daughter. Leah kept producing sons for Jacob in hopes that he would begin to love her more than he loved Rachael. After the 4th son Leah bore to Jacob, Rachael became jealous of Leah because she had produced no children for Jacob while Leah had already produced 4 sons. Rachael eventually gave her servant to Jacob in her honor (I guess? Also out of competition). Her servant, Bilhah, produced 2 sons for Jacob. After the second son was born, Rachael exclaimed "I have had an intense struggle with my sister, and I am winning!" (Genesis 30:8 NLT).
Leah was now jealous of Rachael and Bilhah - ended up having a 5th and 6th son, all in hopes again that Jacob would honor her and love her more than Rachael.
- Then it says "Then God remembered Rachael's plight and answered her prayers by giving her a child" (Genesis 30:22 NLT). Rachael gave birth to a son and she named him Joseph.... and the story continues.
My Bible has little excerpts that explains history, origins, etc. of people, places and things. This is my short version of what it says about Rachael's story.
Her story teaches lessons about patience and love. "Jacob's love for Rachael was both patient and practical." He waited and worked 7 years! "His commitment to Rachael kindled a strong loyalty within her. In fact, her loyalty to Jacob got out of hand and became self-destructive." She tried doing things to compete with her sister in order to gain Jacob's love, yet she already had his devoted love.
It says that sometimes we can make one of two errors when we try to find love. We either think we've been good enough to deserve love or we recognize we aren't able to earn love and automatically assume it can't be ours.
Advice: Try not to earn what is freely offered.
And then the most interesting part (to me) - analysis of Rachael (straight from the NLT p 57).
Strengths and accomplishments: Showed great loyalty to her family; Gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin after many years.
Weaknesses and mistakes: Her envy and competitiveness marred her relationship with her sister, Leah; She was capable of dishonesty when she took her loyalty too far; She failed to recognize that Jacob's devotion was not dependent on her ability to have children.
Lessons from her life: Loyalty must be controlled by what is true and right; Love is accepted, not earned.
Vital Statistics: Where: Haran.... Occupation: Shepherdess, wife, mother, household manager..... Relatives: Father - Laban. Aunt - Rebekah. Sister - Leah. Husband - Jacob. Sons - Joseph and Benjamin.
KEY verse: "So Jacob spent the next seven years working to pay for Rachael. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days" (Genesis 29:20)
Just thought it was interesting stuff.
Sidenote - Drew came home tonight at 2 am (parents are out of town) and reeked of smoke. He said he was at Brent's house in duluth and it would take 30 minutes to get home. That was at 1.... he got in a 2... and just smelled of smoke. So I don't mind if he wanted to go somewhere else but I do mind that he lied? If that's the case. There could be a good reason for it.
I'm about to pass out. Night.
This is my summarized version of it:
Leah and Rachael were the daughters of Laban. One day Jacob (son of Rebekah and Isaac) came over to Laban's land and saw Rachael. He kissed her on the first day and began to cry. He asked for Rachael's hand in marriage from Laban but didn't have any $ for her dowry so he agreed to work for Laban for 7 years in order to marry Rachael. He worked 7 years and was then surprised with the law that the eldest daughter must be married off first (this being Leah). He married Leah and agreed to work 7 more years in order to marry Rachael. Later on.....
Leah and Jacob had a total of 6 sons and 1 daughter. Leah kept producing sons for Jacob in hopes that he would begin to love her more than he loved Rachael. After the 4th son Leah bore to Jacob, Rachael became jealous of Leah because she had produced no children for Jacob while Leah had already produced 4 sons. Rachael eventually gave her servant to Jacob in her honor (I guess? Also out of competition). Her servant, Bilhah, produced 2 sons for Jacob. After the second son was born, Rachael exclaimed "I have had an intense struggle with my sister, and I am winning!" (Genesis 30:8 NLT).
Leah was now jealous of Rachael and Bilhah - ended up having a 5th and 6th son, all in hopes again that Jacob would honor her and love her more than Rachael.
- Then it says "Then God remembered Rachael's plight and answered her prayers by giving her a child" (Genesis 30:22 NLT). Rachael gave birth to a son and she named him Joseph.... and the story continues.
My Bible has little excerpts that explains history, origins, etc. of people, places and things. This is my short version of what it says about Rachael's story.
Her story teaches lessons about patience and love. "Jacob's love for Rachael was both patient and practical." He waited and worked 7 years! "His commitment to Rachael kindled a strong loyalty within her. In fact, her loyalty to Jacob got out of hand and became self-destructive." She tried doing things to compete with her sister in order to gain Jacob's love, yet she already had his devoted love.
It says that sometimes we can make one of two errors when we try to find love. We either think we've been good enough to deserve love or we recognize we aren't able to earn love and automatically assume it can't be ours.
Advice: Try not to earn what is freely offered.
And then the most interesting part (to me) - analysis of Rachael (straight from the NLT p 57).
Strengths and accomplishments: Showed great loyalty to her family; Gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin after many years.
Weaknesses and mistakes: Her envy and competitiveness marred her relationship with her sister, Leah; She was capable of dishonesty when she took her loyalty too far; She failed to recognize that Jacob's devotion was not dependent on her ability to have children.
Lessons from her life: Loyalty must be controlled by what is true and right; Love is accepted, not earned.
Vital Statistics: Where: Haran.... Occupation: Shepherdess, wife, mother, household manager..... Relatives: Father - Laban. Aunt - Rebekah. Sister - Leah. Husband - Jacob. Sons - Joseph and Benjamin.
KEY verse: "So Jacob spent the next seven years working to pay for Rachael. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days" (Genesis 29:20)
Just thought it was interesting stuff.
Sidenote - Drew came home tonight at 2 am (parents are out of town) and reeked of smoke. He said he was at Brent's house in duluth and it would take 30 minutes to get home. That was at 1.... he got in a 2... and just smelled of smoke. So I don't mind if he wanted to go somewhere else but I do mind that he lied? If that's the case. There could be a good reason for it.
I'm about to pass out. Night.