The idea seemed to work so well that it was not long before Rachel was knocking on the door of Jacob's tent again with Bilhah beside her and before you know it, son number two is born. She names him, Naphtali (meaning “my struggle”) because “I have an intense struggle with my sister (Leah), and I am winning”. And it was a struggle. Leah by now seemed not be able to bear any more children and to keep ahead of this competition she was soon forced to twice offer her servant, Zilpah, to sleep with Jacob. The score by now is six babies for Leah and two for Rachel.
As Jacob's love is for Rachel, she has little problem keeping Leah away from Jacob and risking that Leah would conceive of yet another child. Leah gets the break of a life time when her son Reuben comes home with some mandrakes. Among its several properties, the mandrake was supposed to promote conception. To Rachel these mandrakes possibly meant the last chance to have a child of her own so she pleads with Leah to give them to her. Leah was not about to give this precious plant to the woman who “took away my husband”. Finally they settle on a deal and Leah pays to sleep with Jacob that night for the price of the mandrakes and becomes pregnant with child number seven.
As you read this story, you can “feel” the jealousy, competition, bitterness, conniving and manipulation that mark the relationship between these two women. Yet God remains faithful, gracious and compassion for “the Lord remembered Rachel's plight and answered her prayers by giving her a child”. And what a child He gave her! His name was Joseph. You can read all about how God used this man mightily in the Bible. The story of Joseph is known by many Christians and non-Christians alike to this day.
It is important to understand the heart of God for Rachel, for as a worship dancer you will almost certainly struggle with jealousy yourself or encounter someone who has jealousy toward you. This person will seek to engage in some form of silent or even overt competition with you. God's love for Rachel never changed. He always saw past her behavior and schemes to the real cry of her heart. He never judged, condemned, shamed or punished her. He never pushed her away or turned His back on her. And this is the beautiful thing about seeking the face of Jesus. Jealousy can look right into the eyes of her Lover and all she will see coming back is love, compassion, and a God who is ultimately always cheering for her.
When jealousy strikes our hearts it is difficult to ignore. The best thing we can do is to admit the condition of our heart to our loving God who never had any illusions about us in the first place. When we agree with our Accuser then he is left with nothing more to say and it opens the door for God come in and begin to do His work in our hearts in a most loving and gentle way. He is the surgeon of surgeons. If we ignore it then scripture says “we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to the the truth” 1 John 1:8. It is the truth that sets us free.
We can also extend love, encouragement and blessing to those who are bound by the chains of jealousy. Dance open and honestly before your God who never condemns you. You are His delight and if He does want to speak to you about the condition of your heart, it will be done with kindness and will bring sincere tears and a sorrowful conviction...anything else is probably not from God.
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