In the first chapter of Genesis, God made an incredible promise to the fledgling human family, "God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." God was going to work out his plan and purpose on the earth through the multiplying of human DNA. Taking one couple, made in relationship together and with their creator, and forming a redeemed community that would demonstrate and proclaim God's kingdom to every nation on earth. Similar promises would be made to Adam and Eve's descendants as God sought to describe his plan in language that could be understood by flesh
- Promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:5 - No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
- Promise to Jacob in Genesis 28:14 - Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
- Promise to Isaac in Genesis 28:24 - Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham
In Genesis 30 Isaac's wife Rachel, when she 'saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I'll die!”' Rachel clearly felt jealous of Leah and ashamed at her lack of children. But she will also have known of all the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and maybe she also desperately wanted to participate in the promise of God. She knew that if she did not reproduce then her life would end when she died and no-one would exist to continue her lineage. Her deep and heartfelt cry was that she did not want her life to end, to finish. She did not want to die
Give - Rachel knew that she needed someone else to participate in her having children. We too know that it is Jesus, our heavenly husband, who causes the Holy Spirit to reproduce through us
Me - Rachel couldn't accept that others (Leah, Bilhah & Zilpah) would have children and she would not, she desperately wanted to bear children herself. Jesus said that 'he would build his church' and we can be certain that God will fulfill his promise. However what is in doubt is whether our church, our Christian community will continue. 'The' church will have a future but 'my' church may not see the next generation
Children - Children are not a short term responsibility, they need a lifelong commitment to be nurtured and then released so that the next generation can also reproduce
Or - An 'or' is an option, Rachel could see two potential scenarios. Firstly that she would remain childless and that others would have the children that would shape the future. The second option was that Jacob's seed would join with her egg and implant in her womb bringing new life and new possibilities
I'll die - The Hebrew word for die is mût, which means: be killed, be murdered, death, destroy, perish, slain, die out, executed, lifeless, lose life, suffer a fatal blow. Rachel could see the possibility that her life, her DNA (although she would not have understood that concept) would cease to exist.
The truth is that the entire church of Christ will die out in one generation if we do not have spiritual children. We must not sub-contract this responsibility to others, to trained and professional clergy or to charismatic superstars. It is God's intention that all of us are to bear fruit and have spiritual children. Jesus spoke of it this way; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:17-20
God please help me to learn how to share my faith with others. Not only that they can understand and respond but in a way that equips them to also share their faith
