Topical Bible: Murmuring: Rachel

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Introduction

Murmuring, in the biblical context, often refers to the act of complaining or expressing discontent, typically against God or His appointed leaders. It is a recurring theme in the Scriptures, highlighting human dissatisfaction and lack of faith. Rachel, one of the matriarchs of Israel, provides a poignant example of murmuring in the Bible. Her account is found primarily in the Book of Genesis, where her struggles and complaints are recorded.

Rachel's Background

Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban and the beloved wife of Jacob. Her account is intertwined with themes of love, rivalry, and divine providence. Jacob, having fled from his brother Esau, arrived at Laban's household and fell in love with Rachel. He agreed to work for seven years to marry her, but Laban deceived him by giving him Leah, Rachel's older sister, as a wife first. Jacob then worked another seven years for Rachel (Genesis 29:18-30).

Rachel's Murmuring

Rachel's murmuring is most evident in her struggle with infertility. While Leah bore Jacob several sons, Rachel remained childless, which caused her great distress. Her discontent is captured in Genesis 30:1 : "When Rachel saw that she was not bearing children for Jacob, she envied her sister. 'Give me children, or I will die!' she said to Jacob." This outburst reflects her deep-seated frustration and envy, as well as her desperation for motherhood.

Rachel's complaint to Jacob reveals a lack of trust in God's timing and provision. Her demand for children highlights her belief that her worth and identity were tied to her ability to bear children, a common cultural expectation of women in her time. Jacob's response to her complaint is telling: "Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, 'Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?'" (Genesis 30:2). This response underscores the belief that God is sovereign over the womb and that murmuring against one's circumstances is ultimately a murmuring against God.

Rachel's Actions and God's Response

In her desperation, Rachel gave her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob as a surrogate, hoping to build a family through her. Bilhah bore two sons, Dan and Naphtali, whom Rachel claimed as her own (Genesis 30:3-8). This act of taking matters into her own hands reflects a common biblical theme where human impatience leads to actions outside of God's intended plan.

Despite her initial murmuring and actions, God eventually remembered Rachel and opened her womb. Genesis 30:22-24 states, "Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb, and she conceived and bore a son. 'God has taken away my disgrace,' she said. She named him Joseph, saying, 'May the LORD add to me another son.'" Rachel's eventual blessing of children, including Joseph and later Benjamin, demonstrates God's grace and faithfulness, even amidst human frailty and complaint.

Conclusion

Rachel's account serves as a reminder of the human tendency to murmur in times of distress and the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and timing. Her life illustrates the struggles and complexities of faith, the consequences of envy and impatience, and the ultimate grace of God in fulfilling His promises.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 30:1
And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Two Retrospects of one Life
... Rachel's grave is still by the wayside, and that sorest of sorrows has wrought with ...
is enough in all our lives to make us ashamed of one murmuring word, if we ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/two retrospects of one life.htm

Marah; Or, the Bitter Waters Sweetened
... WHAT A SUDDEN CHANGE from the sound of the timbrel to the voice of murmuring! ... of
some who have repined that they had no children, and, like Rachel, their cry ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/marah or the bitter waters.htm

The Incarnation and Birth of Christ
... Jacob set a pillar upon her grave, that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto ... it was
from everlasting that he gave himself up, without a murmuring word, that ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the incarnation and birth of.htm

Three Tests of Love
... We are told that Jacob loved Rachel so much that he served seven years for ... them,
they are offended and grieved and are full of complaint and murmuring, and it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fifty-three three tests of.htm

The Second Season
... God's designs; and therefore, like Israel in the wilderness, are often murmuring,
because Providence ... 9. If thy heart (like that of Rachel) still refuses to be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/ii the second season.htm

The Son of the Murket
... his heart for his friend's unhappiness, he confessed his admiration for Rachel. ... during
the momentary abstraction of her playing-mates, and murmuring that she ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xvii the son of.htm

God, the All-Seeing One
... dirge was ever wailed, except the howling of the winds and the murmuring of the ... No
partial search like that of Laban, when he went into Rachel's tent to look ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/god the all-seeing one.htm

God, the All-Seeing One
... dirge was ever wailed, except the howling of the winds, and the murmuring of the ...
No partial search, like that of Laban, when he went into Rachel's tent to look ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/god the all-seeing one.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... in thy womb," that Jacob served for his wife, and that when Rachel, thinking it ... the
deluge, like the quails given in the desert to the murmuring people, the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

The Saints' Rest is not to be Expected on Earth.
... How well might all these answer us, as Jacob did Rachel, "Am I in God's stead,"
that you ... Might he not give thee life, as he gave the murmuring Israelites quails ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter x the saints rest.htm