“You aren’t pretty enough.” “I need you to do something for me before I will show you love.” “I like her more than you.”
If you have ever heard a phrase along those lines, you can probably relate to Leah. There are so many lessons from Leah in the Bible!
The stone on the well’s mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
Genesis 29:2b-3
Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel … [he] came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth….
Genesis 29:10
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After Jacob had merely seen Rachel, he displayed an incredible feat of strength, rolling the stone from the well. This was a job that was done by multiple shepherds. Then he was completely overcome with emotions and started weeping. Keep in mind, this is only after seeing her.
After this, we see he is willing to work hard to earn her as his bride. When his first 7 years were complete he demanded he have his wife so he could lay with her. Not that he could marry her and be together, but that he could lay with her. Already, we are seeing a pattern here. While nothing is inherently wrong with beauty or being attracted to your significant other, it is wrong to lust after and uphold beauty as the ultimate standard for worth.
Leah was offered in pity through her father’s deception just to appease his financial gains from having daughters. So imagine, to her dismay, when she not only is used to trick Jacob, but how outraged he is that she isn’t the one he wanted. We read soon after this how her self-esteem was affected.
The Lord showed compassion on Leah as He saw she was not loved. But let’s look through her responses after each child was born.
1.
Reuben
Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for “he has seen my misery”; the name means “see, a son.”
“Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
Genesis 29:32b
2.
Simeon
Simeon probably means “one who hears.”
“Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.”
Genesis 29:33b
3.
Levi
Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for “attached”.
“Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”
Genesis 29:34
4.
Judah
Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for “praise”.
“This time I will praise the Lord.”
Genesis 29:35b
5.
Issachar
Issachar sounds llike the Hebrew for “reward”.
“God has given me wages because I gave my servant to my husband.”
Genesis 30:18
6.
Zebulun
Zebulun means “habitation”, from the root meaning “to reside; dwell with”.
“God has endowed me with a good endowment (‘dowry, gift’); now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.”
Genesis 30:20
She was in a relationship in which she hoped birthing sons would acquire his love. By the time she gets to Judah, we see her mindset has shifted to giving God praise alone for His goodness to her. Then, when she births his sixth son, Zebulun, she no longer asks for love for her husband, just that he dwell with her (the word for honor means ‘to reside, dwell with’).
Her mindset has shifted to praising God for His goodness to her, and recognizing she may never have the love of her husband.
Her second place status does not change, but God carried the family line through her son, Judah. The only birth where her heart was solely focused on God and His faithfulness, her husband was not even mentioned in the naming.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, it would serve you well to follow her example. Take note of the lessons from Leah in the Bible as there are many. She went through deep, emotional turmoil but learned through it that God was faithful and worthy to be praised in spite of her circumstances.
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I have always found the story of Leah to be so fascinating. Despite being used by the men in her life, in the end she praises God for His blessings on her. Such an example to live by.