Your Daily Slice

Iyar 25

Leah

“Adonai doesn't see the way humans see — humans look at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks at the heart." (1Sam 16:7 CJB)

The story of the two wives of Jacob is one many of us are familiar with (Gen 29).  Fleeing the family home after having tricked his brother (Esau) out of the elder’s birthright (Gen 27), Jacob fell instantly in love with the vivid beauty and flashing eyes of Rachel, the younger daughter of his uncle Laban.  After spending seven years working for the privilege of being Rachel’s husband, Jacob finds himself married to Leah, the older sister, the one described in some translations as “weak-eyed” (perhaps near sighted?) and somewhat plain (Gen 29:17). Angered at having been tricked by his uncle, Jacob had to agree to serve another seven years before he was allowed to marry Rachel the following week (verse 27).

Rachel was the favored one, the loved one, the treasured one (Gen 29:30), whereas Leah was rejected and merely tolerated.  Rachel functioned strictly after the flesh, according to her emotions and feelings (see Gen 30).  Upon finding herself barren and childless, she blamed her husband, and looked for carnal solutions (Gen 30:1-4) instead of turning to the Creator of the Universe for help. She was selfish and often angry; she was jealous and envious of her sister’s fertility; she lied and was deceptive concerning her father’s family idols (Gen 31:30-35), which she would not have taken if she had been in true covenant relationship with YHWH our Elohim.

Leah, from the beginning, put her trust in her Creator, in her covenant relationship with YHWH, and with her husband, Jacob.  Leah named the sons born to her according to her prayers and petitions to YAH; in fact, the first mention of the word “praise” in the Scriptures is found in the name of Leah’s third son, Judah, from whom our Messiah is descended.  Always, Leah turned to Elohim in thanksgiving for the children that He blessed her with.  In return, YAH honored Leah, in that from her came the priestly tribe of Levi, and the royal tribe of Judah.

Leah also has the honor of being the wife that is buried with her husband, the ancient patriarch Jacob, now called Israel.  Rachel did not enter the Promised Land, but died in childbirth, bitter and unhappy (Gen 35:16-19).  When Jacob died in Egypt many years later, he made his sons promise that he would be buried with Leah and his ancestors, in a certain cave, in the land of Canaan (Gen 49:29-31).  YHWH remembered the wife, and mother, of the covenant.

ABBA Father, I pray for my daughters, and my granddaughters.  Thank You, YAH, that because they are included in my household, they are covered, covered by the Covenant I have with You.  May they be like Sarah and Rebecca, Ruth and Leah, women of destiny, women of purpose, women walking in covenant relationship with YOU, ABBA.  In the Name of Messiah Yeshua, Amen!

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