Read Genesis 29.
Here is a story that even a Hollywood
movie could not do it justice. They
would probably want to twist it into a comedy of sorts. There is such love between Jacob and Rachel
that Jacob offered seven years of his labor just for her. Then, there is such deceit by Laban that one
feels Jacob would have been justified in some retaliation. But no, Jacob responded with an even greater
commitment for Rachel.
How did this make Leah feel?
She was married but she was not her husband's choice. She was an object of her father's
swindle. And, where was God in all this?
God saw exactly what had happened. In fact, God blessed Leah in ways that had
eternal value. She bore four sons with
Jacob. Of the twelve tribes of Israel ,
the four from Leah were:
Reuben, the oldest.
This was a very important position in that patriarchal culture.
Simeon, the second born.
Some have suggested from Genesis 34 that he had a violent nature.
Levi, whose descendants would become the priests of Israel, including Moses and Aaron.
Leah could not have dreamed the impact her sons would have
on history and eternity. It appears that
she hoped these sons would earn the respect and love of her husband and
would somehow vindicate her predicament.
She named her fourth son Judah.
In Hebrew the name sounds like the word for praise. Leah even declared, "This time I will
praise the LORD" (v.35).
Everyone experiences mistreatment in life at the hands of
others. The pain and hurt of rejection
and not being loved for who you are cause some to believe that God does not
see, does not care, or does not exist.
Yet, always God is at work, working His plan for each life, even using
the wrath of men to praise Him (Psalm 76:10).
Even though Leah could not see the future, she praised the LORD by
faith.
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