Gen 30:3-4, 3 Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” 4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.
Sarah, Jacob’s grandmother waited 25 years before God blessed them with Isaac. Rebekah 20 years before she had twins (Esau and Jacob). These children were answered prayers to Abraham and Isaac. Here Rachel wants answers now and her husband is not engaging what both his father and grandfather did, pray and wait on God.
Rachel gave Jacob her maid as a means to have children, we find no objection on Jacob’s part. Leah’s children would be nearer kin to Rachel than Bilha’s the maid. She might with more satisfaction have made Leah’s children her own if she had so pleased, but Rachel would rather have children by reputation than none at all. She missed the opportunity of building relationship with her sister and her children to call them her own. Jacob the voice of reason missed opportunity to be steadfast as his father and grandfather.
If we seek things without prayers, we find ourselves outside of God’s will. Let’s not have missed opportunities because of our stubbornness, Jer 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” We have a great need for Christ, and we have a great Christ for our needs, He is near and dear to us all.