Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Genesis 29:18

For Meditation

She was the beloved wife who did not keep her place and lost it over her family treasure. You know her – Rachel, the heart of Jacob. Seven years were nothing for Jacob to work for her hand in marriage. When he was deceived into marrying Leah on their wedding night, Jacob took the challenge of another seven-year service to Laban for Rachel – a total of fourteen years for the woman of his heart.

Unfortunately, Rachel could not be like Ruth, who gave up everything for the people and God of Naomi (Ruth 1:16-19). Otherwise, why did she hold on to her past by stealing her father’s household gods when the time came to leave her country, people, and her father’s household (Gen. 31:19)?

That is the tragedy of the beloved of God who does not know their position and inheritance in Christ. They struggle to keep and hold on to some things from their past as desirables in their new life. But what does scripture say? “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you” (2 Cor. 6:17).

Many professing Christians today are struggling with this command. They cannot make a clean break from their past. They deceive themselves into thinking that there is something good about their past they can take along on their journey with Jesus to glory. Jesus is not enough. Sadly, they hold on to this deception from hell and lose everything along the way.

Rachel’s experience should warn you today. Jacob pronounced death on the one who had those idols (Gen. 31:32). Rachel sat on them during her father’s inspection with the excuse of her monthly flow (35). And when the time came for her to give birth to Benjamin, these two things came together, and she lost her life (35:16-18). What a tragedy!

You do not have to live that way. You have been redeemed from “the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors” (1 Peter 1:18). It cost God the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, “a Lamb without blemish” (19).

So, let go of that old baggage and make a clean break for Jesus. Then, run the race well with Him to glory (Heb. 12:1-2).