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EVER BEFORE OUR MINDS. “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or else I die’.” (Gen. 30:1. Jacob and Rachel. A “love story” for the ages”. 29:30 “The course of true love never runs smooth.”
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EVER BEFORE OUR MINDS “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or else I die’.” (Gen. 30:1
Jacob and Rachel • A “love story” for the ages”. 29:30 • “The course of true love never runs smooth.” • Leah, then the episode with Bilhah, then Zilpah. • Leah bore 6 of the 12 sons, plus the daughter. • Rachel’s sincere longing could have been cultural, but I think not totally. • Same longing in Sarah and Abraham, Manoah and his wife, Hannah, Elizabeth, and many today. Gen 1:24-28
Oh, that we could have the same longing today, but in a spiritual way. • John 15:1 • I Cor. 4:15-17. • This isn’t the only mark of a Christian, nor our only work.
Bearing Children Takes: 1. Work, labor, travail. • Months of discomfort, anxiety, and joy and excitement. • Gal. 4:19; 2 Cor. 11:28 2. Prayer – • Acts 6:4; Eph. 6:18-20; Col. 4:3; I Thess. 5:25 • Earnest prayer for what we desperately desire. • Zero population growth. In many areas we are losing.
Bearing Children Takes: 3. Vision – • Too much emphasis on new carpet or song books or communion ware. • It could be amazing what God can do thru us, if we co-operate. Eph. 3:20 • This must be ever before our mind. 4.John’s “My little children” – I John 3:7. • Little children need more than just parents. • Teachers, encouragers, supporters. • Each of us can serve in many areas, but Gen. 30:1 – it begins here.