I. Introduction

Good morning everyone and welcome to a new sermon series! This morning we are kicking off the summer months by diving into the Old Testament story of Joseph. As we covered some of the stories about Joseph in confirmation this last year I thought it would be fun to do a series on the life of Joseph so that is exactly what we are doing this summer! This morning though, as you may have surmised from our scripture reading, is really about Joseph’s origin. See, to understand the life of Joseph we really need to understand the circumstances in which he was born. So today that is exactly what we are going to talk about. This story, though the beginning of the life of Joseph, is really about his mother, Rachel. And This story of Rachel is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness, His attentiveness to our prayers, and His transformative power in our lives. Today, we'll explore three key themes from these verses: God's remembrance, the gift of life, and naming the blessing.

II. God Remembers (Verse 22)

• Explanation of the Text: "Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive."
• Divine Remembrance: Not just a recall but an action in response to prayer and need.
• Remember does not mean after having forgotten. 

• Divine Remembrance

• The phrase "God remembered Rachel" is profound. It signifies more than just recalling her; it denotes God's active intervention in her life. God's remembrance is always accompanied by action.
• In the biblical context, when God remembers, He acts. This is not the first time we see this concept in Scripture. For instance, God remembered Noah and the animals in the ark (Genesis 8:1), and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt (Exodus 2:24).

• Application to Our Lives

• There are times in our lives when we may feel forgotten, when our prayers seem to go unanswered, and our struggles unacknowledged. Yet, the story of Rachel reminds us that God does not forget His children. He hears every prayer and sees every tear. In fact whether we realize it or not God is right in the pain with us. 
• Sometimes it isn’t pain, it's just a season of waiting. We may not be sure what the future holds for us and we are forced to wait and in the wise words of Tom Petty sometimes the waiting is the hardest part. In our moments of waiting, we must hold on to the truth that God is mindful of us. His timing is perfect, and His plans are for our good.
1. Illustration
• Consider the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. Like Rachel, Hannah was barren and deeply anguished. She prayed earnestly for a child, and in due time, God remembered her, and she gave birth to Samuel, who became a great prophet.
• Or think about modern testimonies of people who have prayed for years for a breakthrough, whether it's in their health, finances, or relationships, and have experienced God's intervention in miraculous ways. 

III. The Gift of Life (Verse 23)

• Explanation of the Text: "She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, 'God has taken away my disgrace.'"
• Cultural Context: In ancient times, barrenness was often viewed as a disgrace. Conversely the more children a person had the more respected they were seen. 
• God’s Intervention: Highlight God’s power to remove shame and provide new beginnings. = God brings redemption, God is faithful, God restores. 
• Application: Assurance that God can remove the sources of shame and pain in our lives.
• Illustration: Share a testimony of transformation and restoration.

IV. Naming the Blessing (Verse 24)

• Explanation of the Text: "She named him Joseph, and said, 'May the Lord add to me another son.'"
• Significance of the Name: Joseph means "May he add," reflecting Rachel’s continued faith in God’s provision.
• Faith and Expectation: Despite her past struggles, Rachel looks forward with hope and trust in God’s future blessings.
• Application: Encourage the congregation to name and claim their blessings, maintaining faith for the future.
• Illustration: Reference biblical and contemporary examples of faith leading to further blessings.

V. Lessons from Rachel’s Story

• Patience in Waiting: God’s timing is perfect, even when it seems delayed.
• Power of Prayer: Persistent prayer has the power to bring about divine intervention.
• Faith Amidst Struggles: Continue to believe in God’s promises even when faced with challenges.
• Transformation from Disgrace to Joy: God can turn our shame into a source of great joy.

VI. Conclusion

• Recap of Main Points: God remembers, removes disgrace, and provides blessings.
• Call to Action: Encourage the congregation to trust in God’s faithfulness, persist in prayer, and look forward with hope.
• Closing Prayer: Thank God for His faithfulness and ask for continued strength and patience in awaiting His promises.