How can we trust God's plan when facing loss, like Rachel in Genesis 35:18? Rachel’s Last Breath: the Sting of Loss “And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.” (Genesis 35:18) • Rachel’s passing comes immediately after the fulfillment of her longing for another son. • The scene is raw and real: life and death collide on the road to Ephrath, reminding us that even in covenant journeying, sorrow can strike suddenly. God’s Sovereignty Woven Through Tragedy • The covenant family is not derailed; God had already promised Jacob, “A nation… shall come from you” (Genesis 35:11). Rachel’s death does not cancel that word. • Benjamin, the “son of my right hand,” becomes a sign of God moving His purposes forward even when hearts break. • Scripture consistently presents the Lord as in full control, “declaring the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). What Genesis 35:18 Teaches About Trust • Loss does not equal abandonment. Rachel’s grave sits in the very land promised to her family (Genesis 35:19-20). God’s promise stands over her tomb. • Names matter. “Ben-oni” (son of my sorrow) is renamed “Benjamin” (son of the right hand). God can transform what feels only bitter into something that serves His redemptive plan. • Timing is His, not ours. Rachel died young, yet Benjamin’s tribe later gave Israel its first king (1 Samuel 9:1-2) and would stand with Judah when others fell away. Scriptural Anchors That Hold in the Storm • Romans 8:28 — “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.” • Psalm 34:18 — “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” • Job 1:21 — “The LORD has given and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” • Isaiah 55:8-9 — His ways are higher than ours. • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 — We grieve, yet not “like the rest, who are without hope.” • Revelation 21:4 — A future with “no more death or mourning.” Practical Ways to Rest in God’s Plan • Cling to His character: rehearse the truths of His goodness, wisdom, and faithfulness each day. • Remember past faithfulness: Jacob could look back on Bethel (Genesis 35:1-3); trace your own “Bethels.” • Speak truth over pain: exchange “Ben-oni” labels with “Benjamin” declarations rooted in God’s promises. • Stay in community: Rachel’s family buried her with honor; allow fellow believers to shoulder sorrow with you (Galatians 6:2). • Fix eyes on eternity: present losses are temporary; future glory is permanent (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). A Forward-Looking Hope Benjamin’s lineage ultimately intersects with the coming of the Messiah (Matthew 1:2). Rachel’s tear-stained story is therefore woven into the redemption of the world. Trust grows when we realize our chapters—joyful or sorrowful—fit inside God’s unbreakable narrative. Loss is real, but so is the Lord who redeems it. |
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