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Enjoy life after birth of your child

Opinion & Analysis
In our culture we hear accusations especially of wives being accused of bewitching and killing their husbands as soon as they buy or finish building a house, buy a car or bringing a family business venture to profitability.

In our culture we hear accusations especially of wives being accused of bewitching and killing their husbands as soon as they buy or finish building a house, buy a car or bringing a family business venture to profitability. Devotion with Erasmus Makarimayi

It is said they would be hoping to enjoy the wealth with a much younger man who has not been worn out while working for family wellbeing.

People can be bewitched and die, but sometimes such accusations are false. Painfully we have seen widows chased out of their late husband’s estates by family members after being labelled witches and responsible for the death.

The Bible records the story of Rachel, second wife of Jacob who died while delivering her son Benjamin. The story reads thus in Genesis 35:16-18, “[16] And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was, but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. [17] And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. [18] And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.” Of interest is the name she gave her son. Ben-oni could mean son of my sorrow or son of my strength. Both meanings are correct. His father renamed him, Benjamin which means son of my right hand. I shall explain later.

I suppose if you were alive at that time and were a close relative you would have felt devastated. While you would be celebrating the birth of a child whom you would be worried may also die, you would also be grieving over the loss of the mother. One face will be celebrating while the other will be mourning. Of course hypocrites and professional mourners will not have problem with that.

Having carried a pregnancy for nine months, you would not imagine such a misfortune. Having worked so hard to buy a house, car and set up a thriving business, you would want to taste and enjoy the fruit of your sweat.

The story of Rachel is even more painful in that when her supposed husband, Jacob had worked for seven years for the bride price, her elder sister was instead given in marriage.

Imagine you have wedded and on the ceremony where they present the bride, they present the elder sister instead. Laban’s excuse was according to Genesis 29:26, “[26] And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.”

This was not said when he paid the bride price. The story borders between fiction, comedy and thriller. Jacob had to work more seven years to finally marry Rachel.

Rachel who was supposed to be probably the only wife became the second wife. As the story unfolds, it is filled with drama and emotion. As if her being thrown into a polygamous relationship was not enough, she was barren and her elder sister began to bear children. Space will not permit, take time and read on your own. However, she eventually bore a son, Joseph.

An unfortunate incident happened when they left their father’s land to settle in Jacob’s land. Rachel stole her father’s gods, but denied it. Her husband invoked a curse in Genesis 31:32, “With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.”

Let me bring it to a close. Not many would want to experience Rachel’s life. She suffered the consequences of her stealing and according to Jacob’s invocation the thief had to die and painfully this was fulfilled when she was to celebrate the birth of Benjamin. Those who didn’t know the history probably thought she was bewitched by the husband or suffered juju in that polygamous marriage. Ever heard that the wages of sin is death?

Her son Joseph later became prime minister of Egypt. After all Rachel went through she would have wanted to see her son in that position, but it could not be.

Your time is coming when God will bless you beyond measure. What evil are you carrying along the way that will keep you from enjoying your reward of hard labour? Don’t steal any gods; stick to your God Almighty.

Don’t suffer so much to arrive for you to only pass on at the celebrations. There are people that are gripped with fear to the extent that the fear strikes them dead when they accomplish a task. Enjoy your inheritance that you are giving birth to. This is why Jacob named the son Benjamin. He didn’t think of the sorrow that Rachel envisaged.

Don’t surrender easily. Gather mental and emotional strength to enjoy the promises of God in your life. It is not time to give up, quit or get easily annoyed.

You are going somewhere.