Leah

Genesis 29:15-19 TPT says, “Afterward, Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you’re my relative doesn’t mean I expect you to work for nothing. Tell me, what do you want your wages to be?” (Now, Laban had two daughters; the older was Leah, and the younger was Rachel. Rachel had a lovely figure and was gorgeous, but Leah’s eyes were weak.) Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I will serve you for seven years for the hand of your younger daughter, Rachel!” Laban replied, “I’d rather give her to you than to some other man. Stay and work for me.’”

This is the love story of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob was in love with Rachel and thought she was gorgeous. Her sister Leah was a bit how’s-it-going. Jacob did not think of her twice. He saw her weak eyes and moved on with life.

One of the things I love about the Bible is that it is candid. It tells it like it is. The story continues in Genesis 29:21-23 which says, “After the seven years, Jacob said to Laban, “My time is fulfilled; give me your daughter so that I may marry her and sleep with her.” So Laban prepared a wedding feast and invited all the people of the surrounding area. That night, Laban tricked Jacob by bringing his older daughter Leah to Jacob’s tent, and he slept with her on his wedding night!”

Genesis 29:25-27, “When Jacob woke up the next morning, he was shocked to find Leah lying next to him! So he confronted Laban and said, “What have you done to me? Didn’t I serve you these seven years for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?” Laban answered, “It’s not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older daughter is married. Wait until this bridal week of festivities is over, then I’ll give you Rachel, but you must serve me for another seven years.”

Talk about drama! I have heard this story so many times from Jacob’s perspective. How he was deceived and betrayed by his own uncle. Yes, Rachel was his cousin, it was ok back then (insert awkward pause), yeah, all good. Anyway, what happened to Jacob was not ok. It was unfair and he was deceived into marrying someone he did not care about.

What happened to Rachel was also unfair. Her father made the man she was in love with marry her sister instead. Imagine that, seeing someone you love marry someone else instead of you at the hand of your own father. That must have felt like betrayal.

What happened to Leah was also unfair. Yes, it was custom that she should be married first but I doubt she ever dreamed she’d be married off to someone who didn’t want her. I can’t imagine what that must have been like. To wake up the day after the wedding, have Jacob take one look at her and his face change from sleepy puppy dog, I’m so in love eyes, to anger and disappointment. Leah probably knew she was no prize. I am not sure what “weak eyes” means in the Bible but I am assuming it does not mean good looking. I am sure Leah had heard people compare her to her sister many times and she probably felt less than, unseen, unwanted. Then this happened.

Genesis 29:31-34 TPT says, “When Yahweh saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb, but Rachel remained childless. Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, saying, “Because Yahweh looked upon me with compassion in my misery, surely, my husband will love me now!” She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and named him Simeon, saying, “Yahweh has heard that I am despised, and in his mercy, he has given me this son also.” Leah conceived the third time, gave birth to a son, and named him Levi, saying, “This time my husband will be joined to me, because now I’ve given him three sons!”

How heartbreaking is that! Poor Leah was stuck in this marriage with a husband who didn’t love her but also apparently had no problem sleeping with her! Leah kept trying to win Jacob over but he only had eyes for Rachel. Genesis 29:35 says, “Once again, Leah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Judah, saying, “This time I will praise the Lord!” Then she stopped bearing children for a while.”

Leah finally looked to Jesus for the love she desperately needed. What Leah didn’t realise for a long time was that God knew that the situation was unfair to her. He knew that she was unloved and unseen. He knew that she was put to the side and overlooked. So, what did God do? He put Leah right in the lineage of Jesus. Jesus is our lion from the tribe of Judah, Leah’s son who she praised God for. The son that made her stop looking to man to fulfill her needs but look to God. The son who made her realise that she was enough to God. Isn’t that who Jesus is to us? The Son who gave His all so we would know He loves us.

Jesus sees us. When life treats us unfairly, He sees us. I doubt Leah had the full picture before she died but right now, she is forever remembered in the lineage of Jesus. People may cast you to the side, situations may make you feel less than, but God is good, and He is beautiful, and He sees you. You are not forgotten, cast aside or unloved. You matter to God. So it’s time to stop feeling sorry for yourself and start praising the One who sees you, knows you and loves you.

Revelations 5:5, “Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Look! The mighty Lion of Judah’s tribe, the root of David—he has conquered!”  

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano.