Christ’s Ambassador

“A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! (Prov 15:23 )

Jacob and and Elkannah were two of a kind and both of them experienced the veracity of the scripture quoted above, but in different ways.

Similarities

• Both had two wives each, one barren the other fertile.
• Both had to speak to their wives at a time the lady’s heart was filled with grieve
• Their grieving wives were influenced somehow by their words.
• Their families were affected somehow by the effects their words must have generated.

This is where the similarities end.

Elkannah and Hannah

Elkannah’s words were smooth as butter and sweet as honey. He was gentle and understanding when he said “Hannah (my dear), why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (emphasis mine)

Could you imagine how Hannah must have felt after her husband spoke this words?. No wonder she was able to penetrate the heart of God by asking for grace to raise a Priest for God. She said this prayer at a time God himself was looking for someone to restore Israel to pure worship; the terrible days of Hophni and Phinehas.

Jacob and Rachel

What could one make of Jacob’s words spoken in anger? “And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” (Gen 30:2) I cannot see any trace of love in this statement. Worse still, Jacob also insinuated that God was denying Rachel the fruit of the womb. He misrepresented God, who “does not deny his children any good thing”

Jacobs own mother, Rebekah was once barren too, but we read in Gen 25:21 that “Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.”. Jacob’s grandmother Sarah also received the power to conceive when she was 90years and Abraham was 100 years old. I think Jacob could have done better. I think his words made Rachel to go to God with the attitude of “bless me or I die” (emphasis mine)

I have the believe that God was going to spare Jacob from grieve and also prolong Rachel’s life when he closed Rachel’s womb, knowing fully that her frail body could not survive the second child birth. However, the couple settled for the permissive will of God, rejecting the absolute will.

Hannah and Rachel received their heart desires but the former lived and the latter died. It was no happenstance that Hannah and Elkannah lived to enjoy their heart’s desires. They waited for God’s own time.

Jacob grieved over Rachel. It is written: “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Prov 15:23

Questions for Reflection

• Are your words always filled with grace?
• Are you always careful when you speak with someone who is in grieve?
• Do you speak to build up or tear down?