06/08/2021
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Lessons from Leah
(Genesis 29:14-35)
Background:
Leah was the patriarch Jacob's first wife. Jacob loved Rachel, Leah's younger sister, and wanted to marry her. So he served Laban (the sisters' father) for seven years for Rachel. At the end of the 7 years of service, Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Leah instead. (because of a custom in their day that the younger cannot marry before the firstborn)
Jacob then worked another 7 years for Rachel to be his wife. Jacob worked another 7 years for 21 years total.
In all the 21 years, the Bible said, Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. The KJV uses the word, "hated". Some versions use the word, "unloved" to describe the condition Leah was in.
In all these things, other than her love for Jacob, remember that Leah did this primarily in obedience to the will of her father and because of her sense of duty.
When God saw that Leah was unloved, He had compassion on her and opened her womb but Rachel was childless for a time.
There are some powerful lessons we can extract from this beautiful account in the Bible;
1. The Father may require us to do some things we may not understand immediately and may seem to be a source of hardship and adversity at the moment. But when we obey, trusting that He has our best interest to heart, He will make all things beautiful in His time.
Laban was a deceitful and imperfect father but our heavenly Father is not. How much more will He turn our situations around to work for our good? He wants what's best for us.
2. You may not have chosen your circumstances but you can choose your responses
3. All throughout her ordeal, we see Leah taking her petitions before the LORD. When we call the name of the Lord, our concerns become His concerns.
4. Remain faithful and fruitful in the midst of unfavorable situations. Despite the struggle Leah went through, the LORD smiled on her and gave her 6 sons and a daughter, of what would later be the 12 tribes of Israel.
5. Praise comes from the womb of the faithful. Judah, the tribe from which Messiah would come came from Leah's womb.
6. Very little was said in Scripture about Leah's physical beauty. However, she is the perfect picture of a woman of inner fortitude, grit, and true strength.
7. Don't allow your situation to make you bitter -- come out better.
This tale has a happy ending for Leah. For all that she went through, Jacob's request on his deathbed was to be buried with Leah. In the custom of their day, a man would be buried with the wife he loved the most.
You may be in the middle of an unfavorable struggle or situation. Remain firm, faithful, and fruitful. Call upon the Lord and He will turn it around for your good. Just wait patiently and you will see God's blessing upon your life.
By: Dave Cutar
BC, Canada
08-05-21
