Comparing yourself to others...or not. The story of Leah

Genesis 29:16-35 - as you read, focus on Leah!

16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were weak,1 but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, q“I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob qserved seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22 So gathered together all the people of the place and rmade a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave2 shis female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 tComplete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave uhis female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban vfor another seven years.

Jacob’s Children

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was whated, xhe opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben,3 for she said, “Because the Lord yhas looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.4 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be zattached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.5 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name aJudah.6 Then she ceased bearing.

Leah may or may not have been pretty. We really only know that she has sleepy eyes. Who knows what that means! However, what we do know was that she was used as a pawn by her father.  As if that is not enough, she is insulted by her new husband "what have you done to me?'  As we read on in Genesis, she and Rachel are at odds continually. This is not the life she was hoping for, I am sure!

How many times do we feel like Leah; comparing ourselves to others; waiting for others' approval; hoping someone will recognize us for something that we have done or said; yearning for praise from others when it seems so obvious to us that we deserve it; waiting to be loved as we think others' are loved!

As Leah yearns for Jacobs love/adoration/praise, she gives birth to four children.  She names them accordingly through her sorrow of being unloved. However, when she gets to the fourth child, Levi, she states that she will praise the Lord. It took four tries, but she finally got it!  It was not about Jacob; it was God!  God was in control even though the humans were busy messing things up. God used Leah, not Rachel, for the lineage for the Levites and Jesus!  How wonderful for Leah when she finally focused on God and not humans for her love and praise. In return, she praises Him out of her understanding of God's overflowing love for her.

So, now, I ask again. How many times do we feel like Leah? Except this time, focus on God's love for us and what He is doing through us...despite ourselves!  Hmmm...I can't even imagine what He will use to do great things in the future based on the simple little things that I do now!  Everything counts!  Do everything for God's glory!!!!