Genesis 35 - What Killed Rachel In The Bible?| Bible and Tea Time

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Question:

Genesis 35: What Killed Rachel In The Bible?


Genesis 35 is a chapter of tragedy and blessings. Immediately in verse 1: God told Jacob to go the Bethel and reside there, and build an altar to worship me, the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau. Therefore, Jacob instructed his entire household to get rid of the false gods and wash themselves and put on clean clothing (which is a form of purification and cleansing) before God. Genesis 35:


Answer:


Genesis 31:32 - Jacob pronounced a curse on the one who stole the idols of Laban. "But as for your household idols, a curse upon anyone who took them. Let him die! If you find a single thing we’ve stolen from you, I swear before all these men, I’ll give it back without question.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had taken them. Therefore, the curse was fulfilled in Genesis 35:16-19 when Rachel died in childbirth.


Genesis 30:1 - Rachel pleaded with her husband Jacob saying “Give me children, or else I die” and this was also another fulfilment of her death during childbirth.


Proverbs 18:21 - Says, there’s death and life in the power of the tongue. Therefore, we Have to be careful of the words that we speak over our lives.


Genesis 35:1-4 - And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.


2) Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:


3) And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.


4) And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.


Conclusion:

Jacob had loved Rachel more than Leah but how unfortunate the death of his beloved wife Rachel occur just as he was going back to the Promise Land. But because of her father’s strange gods that had meant much to her, she did not hand them over when her father Laban met up with Jacob her husband looking for his gods. 


Rachel made the decision to keep the gods secretly and sat upon them and told her father that she is unable to get up because her custom of woman is upon her. (meaning her monthly cycle) (Genesis 31:34-35)


In Genesis 35:2: At this point, there was no certainty that she had handed over her father's strange gods to Jacob when he had asked to put away your strange gods from among you. Sometimes the ones we loved dearly and who are close to us can create tragedy in our lives.


Rachel’s husband Jacob worship the true God of Israel and obeyed Him, but Rachel's desire was to worship and kept the false gods even though she was living comfortably with all the blessings that the Almighty God had blessed her husband with. 


This is to show that we can not have it both ways worshipping the true God and still practicing idolatry. There will be severe consequences upon our lives and sometimes it can cause spiritual death or even more tragic physical death.


What killed Rachel in the Bible? Rachel was not fully converted to true worship and was still committed to idol worship because that was her custom, and perhaps when Jacob was doing his daily devotion to the true God she was not involved. Even though Jacob was in a strange land away from home residing with Laban, his two wives, maidservants and children, he kept a relationship with God and continued worshiping Israel's true God.


Psalm 73 - The Prosperity of The Wicked | Bible and Tea Time

Man walking with Bible

Psalm 73 - The Prosperity of The Wicked: 


Psalm 73:1-20

1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou casteist them down into destruction.

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

Conclusion:

Psalm 73 - The Prosperity of The Wicked


In Psalm 73 I believe that Asaph has seen everything that was happening in Jerusalem and how the wicked had maltreated God's people and yet they still prosper. 


So he cried out to the Lord God and He gave Asaph a glimpse in Psalm 73 The Prosperity of the Wicked was revealed to Asaph.


Asaph spoke from the innermost part of his heart and lamented how he felt about the prosperity of the wicked. They do not worship God and yet they are prosperous in all their doings.  


They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression because they're constantly fighting and destroying the people of God, yet everything is going great for the wicked and their families.


Verse 11: And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most high? we can see that they have no regard whatsoever for the Lord God and they are full of pride.


When Asaph began to compare his lifestyle to the prosperity of the wicked he became depressed. As he had mentioned in "verse 13: I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency." He also look over his life and thought this was too painful for him to endure.


My thought on the prosperity of the wicked, a Christian should not envy the prosperity of the wicked, but just like the writer Asaph in Psalm 73 sometimes our eyes can easily lose focus from the Word and the Principles of God and gravitates to the wicked and incline to the things of this world.


Asaph was seeking to understand what was happening around him and this causes him to fall into confusion and despair in a dark place as he cried out to the God of Israel.


Asking himself why am I suffering? How long would God allow the wicked to be prosperous? Why doesn't God intervene and bring them to confession? After God has seen all the vicious things they have done to hurt His people and damage the House of God. 


But soon God will give Asaph the understanding of why the wicked prosper and gain more in their wickedness. Asaph felt like it is not worthwhile serving God and suffering when he saw all the chaotic disasters in Israel.


Yes, the prosperity of the wicked will definitely increase because they serve other gods and use rituals, sacrifices and blood offerings to gain their riches and wealth. But these sacrifices are ungodly and their prosperity is not from the Lord God, it will soon dissipate and their actions and sins will be exposed like the sunlight on a noonday.


Therefore, fret not yourself about the prosperity of the wicked. But wait upon the Lord and take refuge in God and be comforted He will bless you with joy, peace, finance, and best of all Eternal Life.


But later when Asaph went into the Sanctuary God answered all his questions and concerns in Psalm 73 about the prosperity of the wicked.


Definition of Wicked: Individuals who are unrighteous (outside of Christ) and practice evil doings, purposely violating the commandment and principles of God without any remorse. Oppressing and afflicting God's people, the word of God is foolishness to them and they refused to acknowledge the teaching of God's word.


Psalm 73 - A Special Prayer Until I Went Into The Sanctuary of God


Psalm 23 The Lord Is My Shepherd | Bible and Tea Time

David caring the Sheep

Psalm 23 The Lord Is My Shepherd | Bible and Tea Time

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

David anointing the Sheep's head


6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Conclusion:

Psalm 23 - The Lord Is My Shepherd

When you are faced with conflicts, and difficulties and feel overwhelmed as if no one cares about you, remember Psalm 23 the Lord is my Shepherd. The Lord God cares about you and His angels are watching over your life, whatever the situation that is causing you to be overwhelmed and depressed God will send help from His Holy Sanctuary and your issues will be solved. 


Be strong and have faith in God because He sees and knows what you are going through and He already made a way to solve your issues, in due time you will see how everything works out for your good.


The writer of Psalm 23 is King David the son of Jessie, he was a shepherd boy prior to being a king. When he wrote this Psalm he remembered how much he had cared for his father's sheep, and how attentive he was to them. Not even a Lion or a Bear was able to snatch or destroy any of his sheep from his flock. David would go after the wild animals and claim his sheep and destroy the wild animals. Therefore, in like wise manner God is our shepherd and we are His sheep He cares about every circumstance in our lives, and God will destroy every issue that tries to captivate you. This is what King David is illustrating to us in this particular Psalm.


While David was in trouble all his enemies sought him to take his life and he knew that he was innocent. Therefore, David trusted in the Lord God and He delivered him from all his troubles and blessed him immensely. 


Trusting, believing and applying God's principles to your life you will not lack any good things, because He will supply all your needs at all times. 


Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd is a well-known Psalm that has been used as a Prayer, in Church Services, Funeral Services and other Formal Occasions to comfort and strengthen our souls. 


King David has written this Psalm using some metaphorical references but also his struggles were literal. But the Lord God hide him from all his enemies, provided all his needs, gave him protection, strength, and rest, and restored and rejuvenated his soul so that King David's head was lifted up above all his enemies, round and about him.


Yet he was full of humility and a good character that God Himself called David a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:13-14; Acts 13:22). What a marvellous commendation from God, therefore, let us walk in the pathway of Jesus Christ and exercise the spirit of Christ so we too can be commended like David who was a Prophet and King, also from the Royal Tribe of Judah.


We are also from the Tribe of Judah, engrafted by the Blood of Jesus Christ, we are a Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood, a Consecrated Nation, a Special people for God's own possession (1 Peter 2:9-10 Amp). just like King David "The Lord is my Shepherd."  Let's declare and decree this Psalm of Protection and Comfort over our lives to strengthen and heal us from Depression and any form of Mental Illnesses.


Psalm 23 - A Prayer of Comfort and Assurance

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