Tag: While we are still sinners

Benjamin was twelfth born of the sons of Jacob. He was born as Jacob’s second son through Rachel. Upon his birth, Rachel breathed her last and as her soul was departing, she called him Benoni, meaning son of sorrows but his father called him Benjamin, meaning son of my right hand.

Points to ponder:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God willfully agreed (John 10:18) to become the man of sorrows, despised and rejected by men, and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). He was born into this world as Benoni the son of sorrows, but The Father God made him the Son of his right hand for Jesus was made ruler over all (Colossians 2:10), and is now seated at the  right hand of God (1 Peter 3:22), for having endured the Cross and despising its shame (Hebrews 12:2). He is God’s Benjamin.

Genesis 35:17-20 (KJV)
¹⁷ And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
¹⁸ And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

Isaiah 53:3 (KJV)
³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Joseph was eleventh born of the sons of Jacob. He was born as Jacob’s first son through Rachel. The Bible records that God remembered Rachel and hearkened unto her and opened her womb and she conceived and bore Jacob, her son Joseph saying that The Lord shall add to her another son. She also expressed that God had taken away her reproach (disgrace or shame of being barren).

From the birth of Joseph, we learn a few truths that may not be explicitly evident.
First, God remembered Rachel, teaching us that God does not forget.
Second God hearkened to Rachel, teaching us that God is a listening and prayer answering God. This also informs us that Rachel was praying to God. Earlier we see that Rachel has bartered her husband Jacob for some mandrakes which she superstitiously thought would have made her fertile. Now we see that she is seeking of the Lord and not resort to some lore, folklore. The superstitious Rachel becomes a supplicating Rachel.
Third, God opened Rachel’s womb, teaching us that it is only the Lord God who can produce life and remove all barrenness.
Fourth, God had taken away her reproach.
Fifth, The Lord shall add to Rachel another son, teaching us that God can add. It also speaks to us about Rachel’s faith and trust in the Lord.

Points to ponder:
Jesus remembered us while we were still sinners and unproductive and did not forget us. (Romans 5:8)
Jesus listens to our prayers and he is a prayer answering God (John 14:13). Let us believe and hope in the Lord than hope on some false lore.
Jesus is the only one who can make us productive for we can do nothing without him. (John 15:4)
Jesus’ grace takes away our disgrace as sinners and turns us into saints. As believers and followers of Jesus, we have nothing to be ashamed of, for he was shamed on the cross to take away our shame. (Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 50:6-8; Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 2:13-15)
Jesus, the Son of God, was made the Son of man so that God can bring many sons to glory i.e., add us all as sons (and daughters) into his family, for to all who believe in Jesus and who have received him, they are given the power to be called the sons of God (John 1:12)

Are you a son/daughter of God?

Genesis 30:22-24 (KJV)
²² And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
²³ And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
²⁴ And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.