“When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. “Give me sons, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.” (Genesis 30:1)
Idols begin as legitimate desires. For instance, wanting a godly marriage and having kids are good desires. Wanting a good reputation is good. But desires can become demands, and “I wish” becomes “I must… I must have kids… I must be married… I must have a job that…!” We tend to drift into idolatry if we aren’t careful. We begin to hold to these desires tightly, and in turn they become ugly. We relabel this desire into a Need. We become like kids in high chairs, banging our fists. “I need this…!” It’s no longer a mere desire but a Need. Consequently, Needs create Expectations that others must meet– those who say they love you: “How could my spouse not do this for me, knowing how I am…?” Idols define your identity, and they lead to heartache and disappointment.
This chapter begins with Rachel clinging to her idol of having children. This defined who she was. However, later we see that Rachel changed, no longer demanding children from her husband. Instead she prayed, God listened to her, and she gave birth. Not disappointed, she credited the birth not to the aphrodisiac she took but to God. Rachel even named her son to have the meaning “May God add”. She was asking for even more grace from Him. Rachel went from seeking an idol to seeking grace.
What is your idol? What excites you? What do you hope for? What do you fear you can’t live without? Friend, stop bowing down to your idol. Like Rachel, recognize your helplessness. He does not disappoint. Cry out for God’s great grace:
Father, help me lay down my idols at the cross, where Jesus died for sins. Idols disappoint, but You are good. Thank you for your daily supply of mercy, grace and blessing despite my sin. Your burden is light. By Your grace, we are no longer slaves to sin and idols. Make me say with the Psalmist, “Who do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but you.” (Psa. 73:25)