Gen 30:2 Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?
Jacob diagnosed right in his response to Rachel but with anger. He went into defense mode perhaps feeling she preferred children more than him. He labored 14 years to marry her because of his love for her. He would think she would sense that love beyond sons and daughters.
Rather than Jacob gently walk his misguided wife how best to tackle her dilemma, he says the right thing with the wrong spirit in my judgment. Rachel herself understood that God alone could remove sterility (Gen 30:6); but to this fact jealousy of Leah for the moment had blinded her.
Jacob needed to help his wife to look to God. Children are gift from God and therefore He is to be sought in prayers. He could have shared how his father handled his mother’s barrenness by prayer. The truth we must grasp is that God makes all things beautiful in His time. And while we wait in prayer, we can go through a process of correction, healing, restoration before we desire more. Broken vessels leak out the good it should hold, restoration is first required.