- Scripture: Genesis 29:21–35
- The Anchor: “And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, ‘This time I will praise the Lord.’ Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.” – Genesis 29:35 (ESV)
Jacob worked seven years, but on his wedding day, Leah was given to him instead of Rachel, and he didn’t know about it until the marriage was happening. He agreed to spend the wedding week with Leah, but then he decided to work another seven years in exchange that Rachel would be his wife after the week. Rachel was given to Jacob before the second set of seven years, rather than after 14 combined years. Although Jacob loved Rachel, she was barren and God saw Leah’s loneliness and opened her womb. Leah had four children in this passage (and more later): Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
Laban’s deception reminds me of Jacob’s own deception of his father Isaac. Jacob deceived Isaac when he was blind, and Laban deceived Jacob as well in blindness since Jacob couldn’t see his wife. As Christians, we don’t believe in “karma,” but God definitely taught Jacob something about his prior deception. God will give us trials that we can learn from, so we should listen to them when they come.
There is a powerful progression in Leah’s children. At Reuben, she thinks Jacob will love her for bearing the child. At Simeon, she says that the son is given because she is hated. At Levi, she thinks Jacob will become attached to her for bearing three children. Finally, at Judah, Leah gets it and sees that what matters most is that God loves her. Judah’s name means “praise.”
Many times, we get into difficult times and we react in the wrong ways. We think God will solve all our problems the way we want them to be solved, and we sometimes even try to make deals with God to get what we want. God gives us the things we need, and when we see that they are good, we sometimes even idolize those things or our initial motives even more. Leah finally realized that God’s gifts should only glorify God even more, rather than shifting the glory from the creator to the created. She wanted to be loved by Jacob, but she realized that she was truly loved by God. I want to recognize God’s blessings in my life as well, and I also want to be thankful to God like Leah was. In all situations and through all things, I want to give glory to God.
Reflection
- God gave Jacob a trial he could learn from by letting him experience the same deception he used on his blind father. When hard trials or consequences come into your life, are you pausing to listen and learn what God is teaching you?
- Leah stopped trying to make deals to get Jacob’s love and finally realized what matters most is that she was truly loved by God. On productive, low-stress days of rest, are you chasing after the approval of people, or are you ready to give glory and praise to God in all situations?
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for the times I try to make deals with You or turn Your good gifts into idols to get what I want. Thank You for loving me even when I react to difficult times in the wrong ways. Help me to recognize Your blessings, to stop shifting glory from the Creator to the created, and to give You pure praise just like Leah did. Amen.