Genesis chapter 29: verse 35 (NIV)
She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
I wonder if Leah always felt left out? As the older sister, but with weak eyes, did Laban think he would never find a husband for her, as opposed to the younger, and beautiful Rachel that Jacob fell in love with. Perhaps that’s why her father tricked Jacob into marrying her. No one comes out of that situation well to begin with. Jacob was not in love with Leah, he had asked to marry Rachel. Now he understood how his brother Esau had felt when Jacob had cheated him out of his father’s blessing. But he was still prepared to serve another seven years so that he could take Rachel as his wife. Poor Leah knew she wasn’t loved by her husband. But God loved and blessed her. In this verse we see the arrival of her fourth son. But her attitude has changed. When her first three sons were born, she saw them as a means to get Jacob to love her. Her attitude, though understandable, was no better than Laban’s or Jacob’s but when her fourth son, Judah was born, she saw how much God loved and had blessed her and acknowledged that by praising the Lord. She stopped trying to win Jacob’s approval and said thank you to God.
Sometimes things don’t work out the way we hoped they would, and maybe through no fault of our own. How do we deal with the hurt and disappointment we may feel. Are we too caught up with trying to make things right that we forget to look to God? Have we forgotten that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose?” (Romans Chapter 8 – verse 28). It was through the family line of this son of Leah’s that Jesus Himself would come. God had not overlooked Leah, and it took her a while to realise that.
God never overlooks us either and we have so much to give thanks for. That’s something I need to remember the next time I’m feeling sorry for myself. God knows exactly what He’s doing, even if its not what I expected.
Dear Lord,
I’m truly thankful for every blessing, and every lesson learned in times of hardship and disappointment. May I never forget to give You thanks and praise for all that You have done for me. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.