Today's study is about Rachel, Jacob's beloved, who gave birth to Benjamin, breathed her last breath and died. She was a woman of fiber, probably aware that God made her a woman to bear children, the Lord's inheritance. Today, it's sad to see people denying their gender. They are surely unaware that one day they will sit before Jesus to answer for their actions (Revelation 20.11-15). Anyone who contributes to the weak making the wrong decisions will also answer for their actions.

         Because of her inability to be a mother, Rachel fell into despair. The Bible tells us: Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die” (Genesis 30.1). Instead of asking her husband to cry out together for God's answer, Rachel envied her sister and forced her husband to take action because she was in agony. You shouldn't ask the Lord for anything out of envy, or cry out to someone who doesn't have the power to solve the problem. Prayer is the solution!

         By making such a request to Jacob, Rachel caused him to become angry and answer the obvious: And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of your womb?" (Genesis 30.2). Jacob was right to say that the Lord was the one who prevented her from conceiving. Later, Rachel gave birth to Joseph, after giving her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob, begetting two sons, Dan and Naphtali.

           It must have been difficult for Jacob to see his beloved leave so soon, when they were supposed to live until the day the Lord called them to Glory. This patriarch lived 147 years, and it is estimated that his beloved wife was only 44 when she died. Everyone should prepare themselves, because no one will live in this world forever, and the only One who knows the moment of our departure is the Author of all things. So, we have to give God His due place in our lives; after all, He can prepare us to go to Heaven when the day comes.

           The Master spoke about the day of our last breath on Earth, teaching us to get along with those who have something against us. That way, we won't be handed over to the official who will take us to the judgment seat of Christ: Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison (Matthew 5.25). Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior now!

           Rachel saw her son, named him and then left. Some spend days screaming in pain before they die; others leave right away, when they still had many things to settle and, unfortunately, no time to do so. These will go to the judgment seat of Christ, knowing that they will suffer eternally. Be wise and get rid of evil with the utmost urgency, because once the just Judge has given His verdict, there will be no other chance to be saved. Make up your mind now!

          There are several cases of famous people who have faced horrors after ridiculing the faith in Christ. Because they had no time to repent, they saw their eternal destiny come under the accusation of having been hard on the Truth. Wake up now!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares