Poor poor Leah.
I know what it’s like to be picked last on a team, but I’ve never been my husband’s second choice for a wife. Jacob liked Leah’s sister, Rachel, the pretty-faced hottie with a body.
Jacob thought he was working seven years for Rachel, but woke up the night after the wedding with a gasp of horror at his father-in-law’s switcheroo.
Because Leah wasn’t what Jacob wanted, he kept working another seven years for the one he truly adored. Rachel.
Our Compassionate God
[box] But because Leah was unloved, the LORD let her have a child, while Rachel remained childless. Genesis 29:31 (NLT)[/box]
The Bible is rich with examples of God balancing the scales. He is just. When we’re on the down and down, He pulls us on the up and up, revealing Himself as the great Comforter.
[box] God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 (NLT)[/box]
God’s ears are sensitive to the broken hearted.
Dangerous Demands
Leah basically became a baby-making machine, and the beautiful Rachel grew hot around the collar with her hubby. “Give me children or I’ll die.” Wouldn’t you think that would have dimmed Jacob’s love – at least a little? I don’t get it. Perhaps he was attracted to Rachel because she reminded him of Rebecca, his feisty, overly-determined mamma. Rachel later proved that she was swift to turn to deception like Rebecca did with Jacob and Esau. When Rachel stole the household gods, she sat on them, and said to her father, “Sorry, I can’t get up. I’m having my period.”
“Give me children or I’ll die.”
Have you ever noticed that’s exactly what happened when Rachel gave birth to her second son, Benjamin. She died!
Abundant Life
Leah, the plain, the unloved, the unwanted, received a different set of blessings – to offset the blessings of Rachel. Not only that, but Leah had many more years to enjoy them.
God is the great equalizer. He knows what it takes to make us into the image of His Son. Watch how He operates throughout Scripture. On earth as it is in heaven, He is fair and He is just.
Balanced With Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you balancing the world. My world. You are fair and just and wonderful. I’m full of wonder for you. Thank you that we don’t need to envy the blessings of others because you’re the great equalizer of life. You give great blessings to each of your children according to your timing and plan. Thank you for being the greatest blessing I can trust with every detail of my life.
Have you experienced God’s fairness in your life? We’d love to hear about it in the comment section below.