Chapter 31 => Yeah, Jacob may be the father of the twelve Israelite tribes in the OT, but he's one to talk about being deceived and manipulated (to Laban), right? Am I the only one who thinks Jacob kind of had a taste of his own medicine when Laban made him work an extra seven years for Rachel after tricking him into marrying Leah?
I remember a sermon at my home church in Magnolia once about how there is some indication that Leah was the better woman of the two daughters of Laban despite appearances (she is described as having "weak eyes" in Genesis while Rachel apparently turned more heads with her beauty). I honestly don't remember the Scriptural reasoning here on why, as this sermon must have been way back when I was in college, but at the very least it does seem apparent in Genesis that Jacob's desires were a bit shallow, his wanting Rachel, and seemingly throwing Leah aside and ignoring her for a time after he realized he'd been duped by Laban and married her instead of Rachel. And Rachel does seem to have misplaced jealousy for her older sister when she sees that God hears Leah's distress and gives Leah not one but FOUR children, before Rachel or either of the sisters' two maids Bilhah and Zilpah can. I like how the twelve children of Jacob are presented to us in chapter 31, that he bore with Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah, who become the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. For some reason, I kind of like the names Reuben and Dinah best.
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Day 23: Feb 19
Genesis 32 through 34
Omgeee! This scripture is so timely! I was reading about Leah just last night and there are so many points to cover it's so profound!
Here's some quotes from the book I was reading...
"And not did Lead live with that hurt, but she was probably reminded daily of how she was second best to her beautiful younger sister."
"Perhaps day after day she heard of all the reasons her husband would rather be with Rachel than with her."
And this...
"We're told in the Bible that God saw that Leah was unloved, so He allowed her to conceive a child (Gen 29:31). When Leah bore her first son, she said, "It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." But Jacob's love didn't follow. So Leah had another son. And another. After bearing that third son, she again hoped that would do the trick, saying, "Surely my husband will love me now." But still, he didn't. After giving Jacob a fourth son, and seeing that her husband still favored Rachel, Leah simply said, "This time I will praise the Lord" (Gen 29:35).
I love how Leah's focus finally shifted. No longer did she seek after her husband's love; instead, she looked to the Lord who loved her. (And, incidentally, it was the fourth son, named Judah, that God chose as the bloodline through whom His Son, Jesus, would eventually be born. Could it be that God's reward followed when finally Leah gained her focus?)"
And best part is...
"And unlike Rachel, Leah became devoted to her God rather than the wooden objects her father had taught her to worship."
In fact, it was Rachel and not Leah who took the family idols with her when they had to move.
Just amazing how God redeems and how when You love and put Him first, He knows how to deliver! Man!!! I'm just amazed!