Chapter 13 – Leah
Jacob loved Leah’s sister, Rachel, and served her father
seven years in order to marry her. But when the time was finished and the
marriage feast began the father brought a veiled Leah to Jacob’s tent instead.
Put yourself in Leah’s place; she was obedient to her father, but she knew that
her younger sister and Jacob were in love. She must have been conflicted,
hopeful, afraid. She endured (enjoyed?) the honeymoon week and then her new
husband abandoned her to quickly marry Rachel and work for his father-in-law
another seven years.
The Bible tells us that Leah was hated.
She bore Jacob four
sons in quick succession, but still she was hated. By Jacob. By Rachel. Can you
imagine how bitter she must have become? When Rachel didn't conceive she gave
her handmaid to Jacob as a surrogate. Leah did the same thing with her maid. Think
about that. Her relationship with her sister must have reached an acidic stage.
The Scriptures record how she bargained with Rachel for bedroom privileges
with their husband. She bore him two more sons and a daughter.
Can Leah be praised for anything she did as a mother? It doesn't seem so. But perhaps being a mother was enough. It is recorded in the
book of Ruth that she and Rachel built the house of Israel. That is a
tremendous tribute.
Next Saturday – Lois and Eunice
If you'd like to receive these bi-weekly posts in your email please subscribe.
If you'd like to receive these bi-weekly posts in your email please subscribe.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.