Genesis 29:16-30
The story of Leah is like watching a series in Netflix. Her life was marked by deceit, rivalry, fight for acceptance and love. Leah lived in the shadows of the more stunning Rachel and the two sisters compete for one man’s love. But everything changed when God came to her rescue.
1. The longing for love.
17 Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel. 19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.” Gen. 29:17-20
· God does not condone, tolerate, or ignore the practices of birth-right, polygamy, bride-price, deceit, lying, jealousy, rivalry, and idolatry.
· The Bible shows the ill-effects of sin in the family.
· It was human nature to love but sin corrupted it.
· People seeks significance, security and meaning from love.
· Jacob was either obsessed with Rachel, a lousy bargainer or both.
· He offered his dowry about 3 times more for his bride.
2. The cost of love.
“21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.” 22 So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. 23 But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.24 And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant. 25 When morning came, there was Leah! So, Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? 26 Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. 27 Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.” Gen. 29:21-27
· The evil of deception going around in this family.
· Laban was a master of shameless treachery.
· He used their customary practice of the bride wearing heavy veil in their wedding ceremony and even as they enter the groom’s tent.
· In connivance with her father, Leah deceived Jacob.
· Jacob rejects Leah.
· A consequence of Laban’s shameful treachery, shame, led both Leah and Rachel to competes for Jacob’s affection.
3. God’s compassion comes to Leah.
“his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. 31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” Genesis 29:30-32
· God’s dealings with human affairs rests solely on His very nature.
Exodus 33:19, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
· Through her struggles to be loved and to find self-worth and significance, Leah found God.
· God saw her misery, heard her prayers to be loved, and for her husband to be attached with her.
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