favoritism

A Lesson From Leah

9:00 AM

Leah and Rachel's story is found in
 Genesis 29 – 31; Genesis 33; Genesis 35; and Ruth 4:11.


Leah lay there, pulling the blankets up as tight as she could around her neck and shoulders as though they might offer some form of protection to what was coming, for it was almost morning, and soon Laban's charade would come to light. Soon, Jacob would learn the truth; that the deceiver had been deceived. But for just a few minutes more Leah would savor the warmth and misguided affections of her new husband. 

She lay there trying not to think about Jacob's reaction when he saw her homely face instead of Rachel's beautiful one. She didn't want to think about how her heart might shatter into a million pieces at his reaction to this deception. Instead, she would lay here just a few minutes more and pray that Jacob would one day come to love her just as much as he already loved Rachel.

Just then morning dawned and 

"... behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25

And so began the heartbreaking marriage of Jacob and Leah. 

"For Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah." Genesis 29:30

Can you relate to Leah in some way?  I mentioned previously in writing about Hagar that I tend to root for the underdogs, perhaps because I have found myself in second place, overlooked, last pick and alone a time or two. 

Leah may never have felt loved by another in her lifetime, for what kind of father would cast off his oldest daughter to a man he knew loved another unless he wanted to be rid of her too, or thought there was no hope of another marriage for her?

And I'll admit, I've often wondered why Leah would have gone along with this charade unless she too felt she was left with no better choice. Can you imagine believing that marrying a man who is in love with your sister, is your best option moving forward?

Fortunately, feelings are not always a good judge of the realities around us. In Leah’s case, as well as ours, she IS very much loved and actually favored by God. God was looking down on the whole situation and took action;

"When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called is name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. Genesis 29:31-34

Did you catch Leah's longing when naming her third son, Levi? "Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons."

Still longing for Jacob's love. But I want you to take note that through all these years of heartbreak, God was right there walking with her, granting her one blessing after another and the same is true for all of us! He has promised to never leave us, or forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5) no matter how desperate and lonely we feel. 

The Bible is full of precious promises of God's love and faithfulness to each of us! This just happens to be one of my favorites:



And sometime between the birth of Leah's third son and forth, I believe Leah figured this out, for when Leah bore her fourth son, her heart’s focus shifted from trying to earn the affections of her husband, to praising the God who had comforted her through these years,

"And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Genesis 29:35 (emphasis added)


At this moment she became part of the linage of the promised Messiah (Matthew 1:2-3) But God didn't stop there! Leah went onto be the mother of six sons and one daughter in all and upon her death she was laid to rest next to her husband whose name had now been changed by God to Israel. 

Blessings,

Sue

Becky Austin

Trusting the Outcomes to God (Genesis 28:10 - 30:42)

2:31 AM




When you are in love, even time has a special quality all its own. Jacob loved Rebecca and willingly served 7 years with the joyful expectation of making her his wife.   “So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.” (29:20)
But, Jacob’s happily ever after would prove a bit more complex than what he hoped for. Jacob would have to deal with  disappointment and delayed gratification for Jacob would have to deal with a difficult in-law. 

Meet Laban.  Laban is manipulative and self-seeking. He tricks Jacob, substituting the less favored wife, Leah and then requiring another 7 years labor from Jacob to secure Rachel as his 2nd wife. All the years that Jacob remains there serving Laban he is blessed by God with many children and Laban too prospers because of God’s favor toward Jacob. It’s no wonder that when Jacob wants to take his family and return to his own people that Laban tries to manipulate circumstances to his favor with no concern for Jacob. Jacob agrees to stay longer but asks for the spotted and speckled sheep and goats. Jacob agrees but once again he tries to turn the odds in his favor. 
 “But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons. And he set a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban’s flock.” (30:35-36)

Sometimes God requires us to deal with difficult people who try to manipulate and use us for their own benefit. Sometimes it can seem like the odds are stacking up against us.  We have 2 choices.
  1. We can get caught up in the frustrations and circumstances and allow bitterness, anger, and despair to overcome us. 
  2. We can endure, trusting in the promises of God and his desire to bless us in spite of our circumstances. 
Jacob chose to endure and trust God for favorable outcomes. He put an action plan in to place and let God provide what he needed.  When studying about the sticks Jacob used to promote speckled and spotted sheep, I found conflicting opinions. I found a few articles that presented some scientific basis that might have been involved in influencing the genetics of the sheep to promote speckled and spotted offspring from solid colored animals. I also found many articles saying there was no genetic explanation and it was just simply God at work. Either way, the glory belongs to God and Jacob knew where his help came from.

 God may have required Jacob to be patient and endure many challenges but he was faithful to his promises to bless him. God intervened to offset all that Laban had done to manipulate and control Jacob’s circumstances. 
“...So the feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.”(30:42-43)

Do you have difficult people in your life? Parents, in-laws, siblings, employers, co-workers, etc? You have the same choices Jacob had.  You can be a bitter, distraught, self-pitying victim and take matters into your own hands.  Or, you can persevere, endure, take action as directed by God and trust the final outcomes to Him.