S) "35 And she conceived again and bore a son and said, 'This time I will praise the Lord.' Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing."
Genesis 29:35 (NASB)
O) The story of Jacob and Leah is a tragic one. Jacob had come to his uncle's land to seek a wife, at the direction of his parents. He met Rachel, and it was love at first sight (see vv.9-12). Jacob worked seven years for Laban, for the right to marry Rachel, and it's a breeze because he is so taken by her (see vv.18-20). All of this happened while Rachel's older sister was unmarried. She lived with her father, just as her little sister did, so none of this would have been a secret to her. It was not, however, the custom of their people to marry younger daughters off, while the older daughters were unmarried (see v.26). This means that, not only did this handsome rich man come to marry her younger sister, but her dad was willing to ignore tradition and his oldest daughter. Finally, when Jacob had worked the seven years, Laban (for whatever reason) decided to give Leah to Jacob - but not openly. He tricks Jacob, by having Leah wait for him. I'm not sure how the conversation went, but when she was told to go into the room and wait for Jacob, a man in love with her little sister, and trick him into sleeping with her instead - that must have been painful. She and her sister both end up married to Jacob, but Leah is unloved (see v.31, where the Hebrew is like "hated"). God saw her, though, and opened her womb and she conceived, giving birth to three sons in a row. With each son, she held onto hope that their births would turn her husband's eye to her, his first wife. Alas, it does not work. Finally, when she had a fourth son, she had the resolve to stop seeking the attention of her husband, and instead put her focus on her God.
A) This was not the end of this sororal rivalry, but it does mark an important turning point. There have been times when I have looked to God for validation in my life. While there is nothing inherently wrong with seeking the approval of my Father God, there is something wrong with misplaced identity and value. God was blessing Leah with children, and she was taking those blessings and using them as an attempt to redeem her marriage. That was not God's intent or plan, though. God wanted Leah's praise. When she finally understood that, God stopped giving her more children, as if to say, "Finally, you're getting what I'm doing." In my life, when God is using me to accomplish His will and I am blessed, like with my marriage and children, I cannot assume a false sense of accomplishment or purpose in that. I love being a husband, but being a husband cannot be my identity. If I am using marriage to validate my life, then what happens when I am no longer married? The same is true for my fatherhood. The same could be true for ministry, my career, anything. Instead, the blessings of God should prompt me to praise Him, and seek His will further.
P) Father, I am amazed by the grace You have given me. It stretches further back than my memory, and I am continually humbled by the many facets of that grace. Where I am with my marriage and fatherhood, my career and the ministry I am doing - all of it reminds me of Your unceasing goodness. I confess that there have been times when these things have wrongly defined me. Thank You for showing me that my identity should be found in Jesus Christ alone. The blessings I receive, in whatever form they come, should only serve to cause worship and draw me closer to You, LORD. Be glorified in my life, and let Your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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