Redeemer Church of Oklahoma City

When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb? –Genesis 30:1-2

The entire passage from which the two verses above is taken outlines the rank idolatry of the entire family. Jacob’s idol is Rachel, Leah’s idol is Jacob, and Rachel’s idol is having children. Idols are terrible. We all have them and will struggle with them until we die. If only they were as simple as little golden statues or stone figures!

One way to figure out what your idols are is to trace back the source of your most negative emotions. What causes that ridiculous anger you have? What am I so intensely worried about all night that I can’t sleep? What would put me over into total despair? Perhaps most of all: what do I protect with lies and deception?

Rachel reveals her idol without hesitation, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Rachel is jealous of her sister who is having children pretty much back-to-back. Leah has no difficulty doing what barren Rachel cannot. Leah’s idol, however, is not having children. Hers is Jacob’s love. Rachel, at least most of the time, has it. Sadly, Rachel is jealous of a sister who has everything she wants and Leah is jealous of a sister who has everything she wants, and neither holds precious what she has been given.

Jacob is put out with Rachel’s question (idols never satisfy!) and utters a rhetorical question: “Am I in the place of God, who has withhold from you the fruit of the womb?” Yes, it is a theological certitude, but most definitely not an answer of a loving husband. When Isaac found his wife was barren, he prayed for her. Jacob encouraged his wife to blame God rather than pray. Tragically and ironically she gets children and still dies in childbearing (Gen. 35:16-19).

The only answer for their inner emptiness they so desperately try to fill is the Lord with his promises. Jacob bears the blessing with a promise: those who bless Jacob will be blessed and those who dishonor him will be cursed (Gen. 27:29). Jacob has personally encountered the promises of God even seeing the gate of Heaven! Neither he nor his wives believe them for a good deal of their lives and the consequences are horrific.

We don’t just have trouble filling our inner emptiness with Christ instead of the things of the world. We simply can’t. We need help. The church at worship is the place where you should get that help. When you go to a church that worships not as merely seems best to them, but according the scripture, this will cause you to face God’s demands, your failure, and Christ’s provision. We need that in great measure! There is one whose only satisfaction was the promises, love, will, and face of his Heavenly Father. We can never climb the ladder he climbed because we’re too weak to climb up, so he came down to set us free not just from the things that enslave us, but even from the law itself (Gal. 3:23-26). “Give me Christ, or I shall die!”

And that’s the gospel! Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.

The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above
Fairest Lord Jesus
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
We would normally have our Men’s Prayer Breakfast this Saturday (July 3), but we’re taking a month off for the holiday weekend. Please plan on the next one: Saturday, August 7.

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (in Galatians) is continues. Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15. 

Visitors are always welcome!