In God's Eyes - Pt 6

When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 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. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing. (Genesis 29:31-35 ESV). Today we turn to one of the least talked about women in the Scripture, Leah. The Old Testament introduces Leah by describing her with the phrase, "Leah had tender eyes" (cf. Genesis 29:17). It is argued as to whether the adjective "tender" should be taken to mean "delicate and soft" or "weary". According to one ancient commentary, Leah was destined to marry Jacob's older twin brother, Esau. In the Rabbinic mind, the two brothers were polar opposites; Jacob being a God-fearing scholar and Esau being a hunter who also indulged in murder, idolatry, and adultery. Because of this, Leah spent most of her time weeping and praying to God to change her destined mate. Thus the Torah describes her eyes as "soft" from weeping. God hearkens to Leah's tears and prayers and allows her to marry Jacob even before Rachel does. Through deception and trickery, Leah does find herself in a loveless marriage. Her husband, Jacob, had been tricked into marrying her, and he resented his father-in-law for his deceitful schemes and Leah for going along with them, as if she had a choice. All of Jacob’s love was poured into Rachel, Leah’s younger sister. Whatever intimate relations Jacob and Leah had were loveless, perfunctory, and routine. Yet God opened Leah’s womb so that she bore children, the goal of any married woman in biblical times. The names she gave them reflected her broken heart. One she called Reuben, which means “surely now my husband will love me;” another she called Simeon, which means “the Lord has heard that I am hated;” and another was Levi, which means “Now this time my husband will be joined to me.” It is a tragic story. But then God revealed his will through her. She had her fourth son. Leah realized she would never win Jacob’s love and that she had to place her hope in the Lord. So she named this son Judah, which means “Praise.” Through Judah would run the line of God’s promise, which means that Leah, not Rachel, was the many times great-grandmother of Jesus. Leah discovered that if we depend on other people to make us happy, we will be disappointed; but if we depend on God, he will never fail us or forsake us. In him alone is true joy. How about you? Have you made that discovery?