Today’s Saturday Spotlight is
Leah
PART #2
LEAH: The Far-Sighted Sister
Genesis 29:30-30:20; 49:29-32
[Interlude of Rachael’s maidservant Bilhah bearing Jacob two sons.]
What actions we will take to preserve our perceived position!
When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah & gave her to Jacob as a wife. [She’s back in the “child-bearing contest”!] Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad [sounds like Heb: good fortune]. Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher [sounds like Heb: happy].
LEAH WAS ENJOYING THE SOCIAL STATUS OF MOTHERHOOD IN THAT CULTURE.
[“The Mandrake Incident” Genesis 30:12-16]
And God listened to Leah, & she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar [sounds like Heb: wages/hire]. SHE IS STILL SEEKING JACOB’S ACCLAIM.
And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him 6 sons.” So she called his name Zebulun [sounds like Heb: honor].
Six times the Scripture records Leah acknowledging God at work in her life.
LEAH, although not the “beloved wife” in an arranged marriage, learned to order her life in accord with god’s plan. & was honored
1) By bearing 6 sons who would head 6 of the tribes of Israel. (From the Tribe of Judah the Messiah would come!) and
2) By being buried in the family tomb at Hebron beside Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebekah, & eventually, Jacob. [The area used to be available to tourists.]
RACHEL’s beauty captivated Jacob from the first time he saw her—but he could not fill the place of God in her heart (Gen. 30:1-2). God did allow her two sons, the first being the renowned Joseph. Rachel died bearing her 2nd son, Benjamin. She is buried near Bethlehem. You can still visit her tomb.
Two sisters. . .raised in the same household. . .so alike in their need for love. . .yet so different in their approach to life. Many lessons for us to learn from these women.
God uses diamonds, cut and polished, to accomplish His eternal plan.
-Granny Jo
Leave a Reply