Recently, I started thinking about Leah!
I had the view that Leah was a usurper and an opportunist, but suddenly, I began to see her in a new light!
The way she was introduced in Chapter 29 of Genesis, projects her as disadvantaged, Though the first daughter of Laban, she was not as beautiful and comely as Rachel her younger sister. But Leah is beautiful. Her beauty may not be physical. Her beauty lies in her strength, in her character and in her perseverance..
She was of a meek and quiet spirit
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Genesis 29: 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
*This was the way Leah was introduced. She was introduced as the Older of the two of Laban’s daughters. It was remarked that she had a tender eye.
*17 Leah’s eyes were weak and dull looking, but Rachel was beautiful and attractive. (Amplified Classic)
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah and served with him yet seven other years.
Jacob's relationship with Rachel was Love at first sight and the fire of love was sustained till Rachel's last breath. The Bible records that Rachel was beautiful, and was well favoured. It is easy to love someone who is beautiful.
In addition, Rachel had other commendable qualities - she was hard-working, and she knew how to retain love. Jacob loved her unconditionally, even when she couldn't have children, Jacob was more committed to her than Leah who had many sons for him. This is extraordinary! Rachel is the envy of many women in our present day who will want to find that kind of love that will be sustained till death.
Just like Rebekkah who could tirelessly fill the water trough for Eleazer, Abraham’s servant, and their Carmel to drink enough water (Genesis 24:19-20) Rachel was equally energetic and what you will call a “Tom-boy”, The shepherd girl!
In ancient Israel, it was not unusual for women to work outside the home. When a girl was eight to ten years old, she began leading the family herd out to a nearby pasture. At the end of the day, the shepherdess brought her sheep back home. At night the animals were “housed in stone-walled pens attached to buildings or compounds, or on the ground floor of houses in the cities,”[1] or corralled in thorny, fence-like enclosures typical of nomadic enclosure
Tending the family herd was reserved primarily for girls, and they continued this work until married at the age of fifteen or sixteen. As a young shepherdess, Rachel met Jacob when she came to water her sheep (Genesis 29:9). Moses’s wife Zipporah was one of seven daughters who tended their father’s sheep (Exodus 2:16-21). Some scholars speculate that Rebekah and Leah were also shepherdesses. (https://womenfromthebook.com)
Rachel found for herself a suitor. But Leah was not so lucky so her father Laban had to arrange a husband for her. From what we can gather about Leah, she was obedient to a fault, (She married a man she did not love. I don’t know if she felt laid back in any way that she could not find herself a husband. But she was the patient type. She had a persevering, and humble spirit.- That is inner beauty
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Leah’s thoughts were revealed in the names she gave her children. Her struggles with Rachel are evident in the name Reuben Genesis -29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me together with Rachel –
The only times we heard Rachel speak was in the naming of her children and in defense of her husband and her son's mandrakes -
The name of the second son in I) Genesis 29:33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
II) Genesis 31:14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
III) And then in Genesis 30:15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night……
Leah was Jacob’s first wife, though Jacob’s first love was Rachel, however, Laban decided deceitfully to replace Rachel with Leah as Jacob's first love, Leah is Jacob's first wife, the one who gave him his first sons. That is why she can boldly confront Rachel in verse 15 of Genesis 31 - And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also?
There was a concealed rivalry. But Leah in a noble way, handled the situation with wisdom
"The word “meek” is the Greek word praus, a word that describes the attitude of one who is friendly, warm, forbearing, patient, kind, and gentle. This would picture someone who is just the opposite of a person who is angry, temperamental, or given to outbursts of anger. Although a meek person faces opportunities to react in anger or to get upset, he or she has chosen to be controlled, forgiving, and gentle. Thus, “meek” people are individuals who have become skilled at controlling themselves and their temperaments. You might say that "meekness is power under control." (Rick Renner)
And for this reason, I see the Lord fighting for Leah all the way, She continued to give Jacob sons while God shut up the womb of Rachel. She alone gave Jacob six sons and one daughter.
Her children were prominent in the agenda of God in the Old Testament for humanity, Think about Levi, they are the Levites of today, Judah is the Lawgiver the lineage that produced our Savoir Jesus Christ. Think about David - the great warrior, and Solomon the Wisest King on earth, they all sprang from Judah. Leah's lineage
Joseph, Rachel's son was raised to preserve his brethren most prominent of Rachel's son.
At the beginning of Jacob's life was Leah, even in death, they were united. However, Rachel was buried 'along the way'. This was not what Jacob wanted, it left him with a broken heart. The unseeing EYE had everything planned out.
Jacon could not give Rachel all that he had intended. He wanted Rachel and Rachel alone as his wife, Rachel as the mother to his children, and Rachel to be buried beside him in death. However, God had His plans.
The quality of a meek and quiet spirit is a treasure — so much so that God says a woman who has achieved this state of maturity possesses something of “great price.” The words “great price” are from the Greek word poluteles, which conveys the idea of something that is very valuable; something of great cost or great worth; or something that is precious and dear.
God highly values a woman who becomes this kind of strong, steady force in the home. He knows how many times a wife has the opportunity to get upset about something that has happened. So when she chooses to control herself and be a contributor to peace instead of strife, God sees this kind of woman as rare, precious, dear, and to be valued. He appreciates it when she puts aside her own anger or emotions and instead helps peace reign in the situation. God thinks very highly of such a woman! (Rick Renner)
For women, it is not wrong to plan and desire the best, But there is a lesson to learn from Leah’s experience, it is better to be meek and allow God to 'take the wheel' while you sit behind and watch, though, Leah was never loved, God made sure she was not cheated in life.
It is okay to want to feel loved and be considered relevant. Solomon is right - "Beauty is vain, and charm is deceitful...". Rachel had beauty and charm. She charmed Jacob all her life even after death. Jacob's thoughts about Rachel were full of affection. He loved her till death and in death.
However, that was not what mattered to God. In the eyes of God, Rachel was a ‘jara’ (extra) for Jacob. Rachel was the rope (bridle) used to get Jacob.
Take a look at the blessings for the sons of Jacob
Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
The strength of his manhood, the proof of his fatherhood was released in Reuben. Leah was the first wife, her son is the heir. Even after Reuben’s misbehavior, Judah took the place of the firstborn.
After Rachel died, Jacob was left with Leah. He mentioned of the name Leah again when he was preparing his children on how and when he should buried when he died.
The children of Leah fought for their mother so they hated Joseph. It was not without cause that they were fighting for the maltreatment of their mother in the hands of Jacob.
Leah is a woman to be emulated!
