Hope Beyond the Sorrow

Genesis 35:16-20

The Deaths of Rachel and Isaac

¹⁶Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. ¹⁷And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” ¹⁸And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. ¹⁹So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), ²⁰and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day.

(ESV)

Thought:
As Jacob and his family enter into the promised land of Canaan, the final member of the family is born, the youngest brother, Benjamin. But unfortunately during his birth Rachel is in immense pain which she succumbs to and dies. So in her final moments she names her son Ben-oni, meaning “Son of my sorrow”.

Many of Jacob’s children have been named after the experience and desires of his wives as they have given birth to these children. Now this final child is given a name that shall forever bring to memory the death of his mother. But Jacob changes his name to Benjamin, meaning “Son of honour” or “Son of my right hand”.

One name given in the midst of the moment, looking only to what surrounded her in that moment, another name given in light of what this might become. Benjamin was not a baby of sorrow, he was not a baby of despair, born into a hopeless situation. He was the first and only child of Jacob born in the promised land, he was born into a moment that was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Jacob. You shall return to the land of your fathers, and your descendants shall occupy the land.

This is a reality of pain and suffering, it has a strong ability to be able to focus all our attention on our immediate surroundings. Meditation on the big picture, the long game, is easy when one is not constantly bombarded with stress, pain, and troubles. But dealing with the harder realities of life makes it a much harder task.

Look to Jesus, he knew there was much suffering ahead of him, but what kept him strong was knowing the joy that was on the other side. The salvation of all mankind. You might not know what is on the other side of your suffering but God has promised there is something good, most importantly our suffering is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory.

Our suffering is preparing us for heaven, without our suffering heaven would not be what it was meant to be. We wouldn’t appreciate it as fully as we could. My friends don’t get lost in your immediate circumstances. Remember you have a God who loves you. That he has a plan, fight the inclination to focus only on what surrounds you. Because there is always more going on and there is always hope.

Reflection:
As I go about my day, I need to recognise how suffering can shrink my world down to whatever pain is right in front of me. Like Rachel, it’s easy to name my circumstances only by what hurts. But God invites me to look beyond the moment, trusting that He is working toward something good even when I cannot see it. Today I need to apply this by lifting my eyes from what overwhelms me and remembering that God’s promises stretch far beyond my present struggles.

Prayer:
Father, help me not to be consumed by the pain of the moment. Teach me to trust that You are working for my good even when I cannot see the outcome. Strengthen my hope, widen my perspective, and remind me that every sorrow is held within Your greater plan. Amen.