Rachel: The Bride of Christ: God’s Light and Increase

Rachel:  The Bride of Christ:  God’s Light and Increase

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Several biblical symbols represent the church. Among them is the church's calling as the holy, radiant, spotless Bride of Christ, the Lamb of God. Many times women in scripture picture the attributes of the church as that Bride. None is flawless, but each is beloved. Even so, the church, the Bride of the Lamb, though not without flaw, is dearly loved of our Lord.

Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban.  She was the beloved wife of the patriarch Jacob.  Her Hebrew name, Rochel, is numerically equivalent to the phrase vayehi ohr, “and there was light.”  In her features and in her demeanor was light; she illuminated the lives of those in her presence. 

As with her sister Leah, Rachel’s destiny, her portrayal of the church, lies in her children.  Rachel prayed for the Lord to give her children.  After many years, “God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach." So she called his name Joseph, and said, "The LORD shall add to me another son" (Genesis 30:22-24 NKJV).

God did give Rachel another son.  On the family’s journey back to the Promised Land, near Bethlehem, Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin.  “And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)” (Genesis 35:18-19 NKJV).

Before she died, Rachel named the child Ben-oni, “son of my sorrow.”  However, Jacob named him Benjamin, “son of my right hand.”  In other words, “son of my strength.”  Two mighty men were descendants of Benjamin.  King Saul was a man mighty in physical power.  The Apostle Paul was a man mighty in spiritual power. 

Joseph, whose name means “the Lord will increase” illustrates God’s increasing provision for His children.  Egypt increased in power, influence and wealth when Joseph served as second unto Pharaoh during the years of famine. 

During the years in Egypt before the famine, Joseph fathered two sons.  Manasseh, the older, was a comfort and healing to his father.  His name means, “God has caused me to forget.” “Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house" (Genesis 41:51 NKJV).  The blessings of God in our lives and His ever-abiding presence outweigh the sorrow, anguish and despair of the world.

The Lord blessed Joseph with a second son. “And the name of the second he called Ephraim: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." Ephraim means “double fruitfulness” (Genesis 41:52).  More than four hundred years later, when Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, Ephraim was the largest tribe.  Both Joshua and the prophet Samuel were Ephraimites.  The sanctuary at Shiloh was in the territory of Ephraim.  When the kingdom was divided, Ephraim became the leading tribe of the Northern Kingdom.  Ephraim’s name was often used to indicate the Northern Kingdom. 

 

In Rachel’s story we learn that God seeks to bless, provide for and increase His people.  Like Rachel, we are to bring light into the darkness of our age.  During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke over believers, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16).

We, like Rachel, are commissioned to bring light into the world.  In that light, we find increase and strength.