“And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.” (Genesis 30:1)

“And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?” (Genesis 30:2)

The wise men of this world have attempted, and are continuing to attempt, to be The Giver of Life by their various fertilization techniques. However, man cannot create life, or give life.

The Bible’s account of Creation in Genesis 1 and 2 is very plain concerning God being the Author of all Creation and all Life. (See Genesis 1:1, 27; 2:7; John 1:3-4; Colossians 1:16.)

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)

Then in Genesis 4:1, it is revealed that Adam’s and Eve’s posterity (descendants) would come by Adam “knowing” his wife in sexual intercourse between a male and female. But even in this process God established, it is only God who gives life at the point of conception (John 1:4; 5:26).

This very truth is latent within our text verses (Genesis 30:1-2), where Rachel blamed Jacob for her being barren and having no children:

“…Give me children, or else I die. (2) And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?” (Genesis 30:1-2)

Here Jacob ascribes life to God, not to man.

And then read these verses:

“As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5)

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalms 139:13-14)

These Scriptures point out explicitly that God is the Creator and the Giver of Life.

Not only is the beginning of life ascribed to God, but also the number of days of each man on this earth. (See Job 14:5; Psalms 31:15; 39:4; 90:12).

“Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;” (Job 14:5)

Man, in all his so-called wisdom cannot create – period. He cannot give life to the creature, because he is not life; he is the one who has been given life. Man must bow to Ecclesiastes 11:5b, “nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”

Also, the Preacher, Solomon said:

“There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.” (Ecclesiastes 8:8)

Man hath no power to stop death. Man is helpless to give life; to control or sustain life; or to take life. This is God’s domain, not man’s. Man will not, nor cannot, ever be God. Therefore, man is not in control of life and death.

Rachel’s statement to Jacob in Genesis 30:1 stands as a monument of the pride of man. It reveals a gross lack of understanding of the only True and Living God, the Giver of all Life. But Leah’s and Rachel’s action of giving their handmaids to Jacob as wives, to bear more children, is also the height of man’s pride.

Man cannot circumvent God’s Plan and Purpose by inserting a feeble effort of man to change God’s Plan. Abraham and Sarah learned this lesson in the giving of Hagar to Abraham as his wife to bring about the Promised Seed. This action brought strife and great sorrow to Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael.

What is the application here for us? The answer is – leave God’s business to God. Man is not to interfere with God’s Will and Purpose. When man does try to interfere with God’s business, there is always sorrow, shame, defeat, failure, and even destruction:

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

On the opposite side is:

“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:27)

You must understand:

1) “The fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 1:7; 8:13; 9:10)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

2) That God is Sovereign (Proverbs 19:21; Job 23:13-14)

“There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” (Proverbs 19:21)

“But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. (14) For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.” (Job 23:13-14)

3) That God’s Way is the only way (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

God’s People should not question God or try to figure out a way around God.

But God’s Sheep should:

1) Surrender to Him as God, as Sovereign (Genesis 1:1; Psalms 110:3; 115:3)

2) Submit to His Word as Truth

a) Study His Word for the way of success, and submit to it (Psalms 119:105; 2 Timothy 2:15; Joshua 1:8)

b) Examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5)

3) Obey His Word

a) Then obey, be a doer of God’s Word (James 1:22-23; Hebrews 11:6)

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

b) Lean on Christ for Power, Peace, and Direction (Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:13, 19; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Hallelujah!

4) Endure in obedience

a) Never give up; keep on keeping on; “endure”

i) Walk even as He walked (1 John 2:6; 1 Peter 1:14-15)

ii) Walk in love, light, circumspectly, filled with the Spirit, full of praise, and submit one to another (Ephesians 5:1-33)

iii) Endure (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)

Let us not be a Rachel – but be a Jacob. Let us not be a blamer or a complainer – but be a submitter and a doer and an endurer of God’s Word.

The problem lies within us; not with another man, and surely not with God. Our problem is Pride. It was Lucifer’s problem (Isaiah 14:12-13; Ezekiel 28:1-19); and it is every human’s problem since Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden.

What must we do then?

Forsake our pride; Confess He is Lord, He is Sovereign; Bow before Him; Humble ourselves – and then God will have mercy upon us (1 Peter 5:5-11).

Look to Him, Wait on Him, and Move by His Power and Love and Mercy – then you will be fruitful and prosperous in Christ:

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

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