Read: Genesis 35-37
Marked: Genesis 35:19, So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that [is,] Bethlehem).
Sadly, Rachel passed away from complications giving birth to Benjamin. Jacob has learned to trust God during his time in Padang Aram and God has blessed him. But now he suffers the loss of his first love, Rachel
Believers in Christ suffer loss, and at times, great grief. But we should never think that when we suffer that God is displeased with us or that we are being punished.
Christians are not immune to the suffering life brings. Job, who was well acquainted with grief and suffering, said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job1:21) Later, Job said about his situation, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10b).
Faith in God isn’t dependent on the blessing we receive from God, or lack of blessing. Suffering can be a great teacher, if we let it. And we know that suffering will one day come to an end.
And then, we who believe, will reside with God in heaven “and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
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