The Hand of Skill and Strength

Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16-18)

Jacob and his family were back in Canaan, and by this time had 12 children – 11 sons and one daughter. Previously, the birth of a son to Jacob was seen as a victory for the wife who bore the son, winning over her sister. Each son was a cause for rejoicing and victory in the competition with her rival.

Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife, gave birth to their twelfth son in the land of Canaan, and the birth was difficult as she labored in childbirth. Weak and near death, she called out the name of her last son, and she called his name Ben-Oni, meaning “son of my sorrow.”

However, Jacob wouldn’t let this stand. He called him Benjamin. Jacob wisely changed the name of the child to Benjamin, which means “son of my right hand.” Perhaps he rightly sensed the special place God had for this child, or perhaps he simply prized Benjamin so greatly because he was the final link between him and Rachel, the woman he most loved.

The name “Son of My Right Hand” (Benjamin) was special because the right side was associated with greater strength and honor because most people are right-handed. “Son of My Right Hand” has the idea of “son of my strength” or “son of my honor.”

This idea is expressed in passages like Exodus 15:6: Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.

The Lord is our strength and honor, as in Psalm 16:8: I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Wonderfully, God’s strength and honor are for His people: My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:8). Though I walk in the midst of trouble…Your right hand will save me (Psalm 138:7).

When it came to our rescue, our salvation, our redemption, God would never do the work half-way or with only part of His strength. If His hand would rescue us, it would be His right hand, representing all God’s skill and strength. Today, you can thank God that He didn’t go half-way when it came to saving you.

Best of all, we know that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, the position of strength and honor, and believers sit there with Him: If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).