RESPONSIVE
Rachel, alas, died in the land of Canaan on the way, while there was still some distance to go. Â Â Â âGenesis 48:7
The women by the tomb of Rachel, like Rachel, knew how to wait. Seven years, then more, waiting for happiness, or to leave, then to return home, waiting for a son, and then another, and in the meantime making use of the time, cleverly, hiding statues of forbidden gods, wresting mandrakes from her sister. He waited too, Jacob. He waited for all the promises and blessings to come true.Â
The women around the tomb of Rachel knew a verse in Jeremiah about Rachelâs weeping, about Godâs compassion. It might not have worked twice, but it was worth a try.
Rachel died on the road in childbirth. Thereâs nothing redemptive about that. What she waited for, she didnât get, and died young.
They called out: Rachel, forgive us, and forgive God. We love you too much to ask you to stop crying. Out of all the matriarchs and patriarchs, only you are buried alone, only you can understand.












