Sorrow To Destiny: Rachel And Benjamin

Sorrow To Destiny: Rachel And Benjamin

Today is both a sad day and a celebration of life. It is the day Rachel gave birth to Benjamin and soon thereafter died due to complications (Genesis 35:16-20). Rachel is known as the mother of Israel, and this single moment of death and new life is a foreshadowing of Israel’s eventual exile and return to the Promised Land from Babylon as spoken by the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:15, but also the slaughter of the firstborn children in Bethlehem and Yeshua’s escape to and return from Egypt as written in Matthew 2:16-23.

In both verses, Rachel is crying out from Ramah which is the place she died between Bethel and Bethlehem near the shepherd’s watchtower near a place called Zelzal as written in 1 Samuel 10:2. In Jeremiah’s time. it was also in Ramah that the conquering Babylonians were deporting the captive Jews from Jerusalem, and as we very well know, it was very close by in Bethlehem which is just walking distance, that Yeshua and His family fled to Egypt when warned of the impending slaughter of the firstborn children there.

Benjamin has an equal share in the prophetic significance of this event as well seeing as his name was supposed to be Ben-Oni (son of my sorrow), but was then changed by Israel (Jacob) to be Benjamin (son of my right hand) in the Promised land no less. Remember also, that it was only one day prior to all of this happening that Jacob’s name was changed by YHWH to Israel at Bethel the same place he had previously wrestled with God, and on this occasion built an altar to Him. In both cases of Benjamin and Israel, we see that each man went from having a name with a negative connotation to receiving their covenant names that spoke of their destinies in Adonai. It is once again the perfect picture of Yeshua who was doomed to death, but through death brought about salvation, the meaning of His name, Yeshua, the destiny of all who receive Him as Lord and Savior.

Whatever sorrow you may have gone through, or may be going through, remember on this day that you are being called from Ben-Oni to Benjamin, and your story and destiny in Yeshua is a victory that has already been won which you now get to walk out as an overcomer, an ambassador of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be a witness wherever you go. In your times of sorrow, He is your comforter Who never leaves you nor forsakes you. Adonai bless you and keep you!