Musar zu Bereschit 30:1

Behold, it is obvious that if the Creator created for this affliction only this remedy, then it is impossible under any circumstances for a man to heal himself from this affliction without employing this treatment. One who thinks to save himself without Torah study is only mistaken, and will see his error only in the end, when he dies in sin.

But if he toils in the Torah, when he sees its ways, commandments, and warnings, behold, on its own, eventually a renewal will awaken within him which will bring him to the good path. This is what our sages of blessed memory stated: "would that it were that they abandoned Me but kept My Torah, for the light within it would bring them back to the good" (Eicha Raba 2).

And the reason that Joseph reigned and his other sons humbled themselves to him stemmed from Jacob our father himself. Because he became angry with Rachel upon her saying to him (Bereshith 30:1): "Give me sons," he was told by G-d (as related in the Midrash, Bereshith Rabbah 71:10): "Is this the way to answer those who are oppressed? Upon your life, your sons will stand before her son [Joseph]!"

I have explained the whole subject elsewhere in connection with Rachel's accusing Jacob of not having prayed for her to have children as Isaac had done for Rebeccah who had been barren. The Torah describes Jacob as becoming angry at Rachel as a result of her accusations (30,2). Why should Rachel's request have aroused Jacob's ire? How did Jacob understand the Talmud which teaches that the reason that the matriarchs were barren was to provoke them or their husbands into prayer so that G–d would grant them children (Yevamot 64)?