Adding and the Kingdom of God

"And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die." - Genesis 30:1

To Rachel, to give birth to a child meant everything to her.

God desires fruitfulness.

God’s first commandment in the Bible to man was to Adam and Eve saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth… (Genesis 1:28).

God desires spiritual children.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5

Similar to His commandment to Adam and Eve, Jesus commanded His disciples, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature… (Mark 16:15). And, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… (Matthew 28:19 NKJV)

It is by the gospel that souls are born into the kingdom of God.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

Paul the Apostle travailed in prayer for souls to be born into the kingdom of God.

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," - Galatians 4:19

Paul had many sons in the gospel. (Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:10, 1 Timothy 1:18)

"I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." - 1 Corinthians 4:15

With the same attitude and deep desire for children that Rachel had, our travailing prayers can affect the birth process of souls into the kingdom of God.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." - Psalm 126:5-6

"And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: and she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son." - Genesis 30:22-24

Rachel’s first-born son Joseph is a type of Christ. The name Joseph means “adding.” Just as God took away Rachel’s reproach with her first-born son Joseph, God took away our reproach with His first-born son Christ (the body/flesh of God). God took away our reproach from our sin by His death on the cross.

"For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." - Psalm 69:9

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." - Hebrews 2:10

By our obedience to the gospel by repentance, water baptism in Jesus name, and receiving the Holy Ghost, we become a son of God. Christ was born the son (body/flesh) of God. We are born again of water and the Spirit and become a son (body/flesh) of God.

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." - Romans 8:29

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13 (Philippians 2:15, 1 John 3:1-2, Galatians 4:4-7).

As Rachel’s son Joseph means “adding,” after God was born in flesh as the only begotten Son of God, souls were added when they became sons of God by being born again of water and of the Spirit.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41 KJV

"…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:47 KJV