Jacob had two wives of the same father for which he served an equal number of years. These two wives represent the church as she is represented in both the old and new testaments. If we view Rachel as the church represented, in old natural Israel, then her death at her son's birth tells a story. Old mother Israel must die in order that the son of the Father's right hand appears in this world. Looking upon the same child, his dying mother calls him Benoni (son of sorrows) but his father calls him Benjamin (son of my right hand). His mother called him Benoni because his presence did not accomplish what she had hoped for. She had visions of pleasing her husband with many children, winning his love by her faithfulness, and living out her days as his true love. Even so natural Israel saw her son but cursed him with the name Benoni because he did not fit her ideas and concepts of the promised son.

The story of Rachel and Benjamin is also the story of all God's elect. The old religious hopes and dreams by which Satan has deceived the world cause the natural man to despise the promised son. But true Israel, all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, call him with his beloved Father: Son of my right hand.