I hope you all had a relaxing weekend and are ready to dive into the story of Leah. Let’s get in our happy spaces and dive in. Read Genesis 29-35.
When I think of Leah, I think of the older sister who took delight in hurting her younger sister and marrying the man she loved out of jealousy. But that is certainly not the story. Leah was sadly placed in a situation that she did not want for herself. Her father, Laban, tricked Jacob into marrying his oldest daughter because of culture since she was the oldest. This had to hurt Leah since she did not want to marry a man she did not love nor was she wanted by Jacob. I can’t imagine the pain that both sisters felt- they were pinned against each other.
Thankfully, God is a God who sees us. He saw the pain that Leah was in- she wasn’t loved, treasured, or wanted by Jacob. Leah thought she could win Jacob’s love by giving him sons, but Jacob only loved Rachel. God didn’t see her as the unwanted bride or the rejected one but as His beloved. Despite the rejection that she lived with from Jacob, Leah praised the Lord through her pain (Genesis 29:35). God blessed Leah with many children even though she was rejected by her husband, God chose her to be a part of something greater because it was through her lineage that Jesus would come. Jacob may not have chosen her but God did.
There have been times when we all felt rejected, unwanted, and unloved. We compare ourselves to others, we feel rejected, and sometimes feel as if we’ll never measure up. But God has a purpose for every one of us. He has created us to fulfill the role that He made for us, and He sees us right where we are. Just think, we’re here not by chance, but by God’s choosing to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.
Let’s discuss what we just read. I have some questions that I want you to think about, write them down, and if you’d like to comment below we can discuss them together!
- What did we learn about God and His character in the life of Leah?
- What character qualities, positive or negative, do we see in Leah’s life?
- What can I learn from Leah’s story and apply it to my own life?
Our God is a God who sees us. We are never alone, unwanted, or unloved. Even though Leah was jealous of Rachel and rejected by Jacob, God still used her. Leah is a great example of God’s love for us. We may feel as if we aren’t important, we aren’t enough, or keep trying to prove ourselves, but the reality is that we don’t have to work at all for God’s affection or His love. He is waiting for us to run into His arms to find peace.
I hope you enjoy this study and decide to come back. Tomorrow, we’ll learn about the Hebrew Midwives and see how God moved in their lives. I hope you enjoy the beautiful sunset that was made by our loving Father and y’all have a wonderful night.