Give me children, or else I die

"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.

It is by the gospel that souls are born into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38).

Paul the Apostle travailed in prayer for souls to be born. (Galatians 4:19).

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.” While Christ is the only begotten Son of God (born the Son of God from birth), we become sons of God when we are born again of water and of the Spirit. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, 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, Hebrews 2:10).

"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

"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

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