CHARACTER STUDY ~ RACHEL

Rachel means “ewe in Hebrew or “one with purity.” She was the daughter of Laban and the favourite wife of Jacob. She had two sons.

Some Characteristics of Rachel:

✔ She was the youngest daughter of Laban and very beautiful. Although she was beautiful, she tended her father's sheep. We must understand our physical beauty is well-defined by inner beauty. Learn to be hardworking.

✔ Her hard work made her path cross with Jacob. If we avail ourselves of duty or serve faithfully, good and great things will locate us in life.   

✔ Jacob was ready to serve an additional seven years to marry her. Jacob found love in her, not lust. We must also learn to distinguish between lust and love in our relationships. Pre-marital sex always blindfolded the minds of those who indulge in it thereby creating challenges in their lives.    

✔ Her challenge in marriage was infertility. She was barren and this led her to give her maid out to bore children with her husband. She never consulted the will of God in the situation and unfortunately, these children took part in selling her son Joseph.     

✔ God opened her womb and she gave birth to two sons: Joseph and Benjamin. There is nothing too hard for God to do. Trust God with all your challenges and He will deliver you.  

✔ She stole her father's household gods (images). We must not make for ourselves any idol or graven images to worship. Worship only the Almighty God.

✔ She named her child out of pain. Never invoke curses or bad omens on your children when things are tough for you. Rather pronounce the blessings of God over their lives and declare it shall be well with them.

✔ During child delivery, Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

✔ A sculpture was raised in memory of her. Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 29:9-31; 30:1-34; 31:4-33; 35:16-24; 1 Samuel 10:2