Lessons from Leah

[7/9, 6:20 PM] : One story from the Bible seems especially steeped in disappointment. Jacob agreed to work 7 years for the right to marry his boss’s daughter Rachel. But after fulfilling his contract, Jacob got a wedding night surprise. In the morning he discovered not Rachel but her sister Leah.

We focus on Jacob’s disappointment, but imagine how Leah must have felt! What hopes and dreams of hers began to die that day as she was forced to marry a man who did not love or want her?

Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Are we to believe that God-fearing people are never disappointed? No, the psalm clearly shows that the writer sees injustice all around him. But he takes the long view: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (v. 7). His conclusion: “The meek will inherit the land” (v. 11).

In the end, it was Leah whom Jacob honored and buried in the family grave plot with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah (Gen. 49:31). And it was through the lineage of Leah—who in life thought she was unloved—that God blessed the world with our Savior. Jesus brings justice, restores hope, and gives us an inheritance beyond our wildest dreams.
[7/9, 6:21 PM] Cecilia: Came across this , the meek will inherit the Land !
[7/9, 7:09 PM] Juliet: How true!! I was surprised to see how Leah was good and blessed than Rachel when I did a detailed study for “Women in the Bible” sometime back... a new perception

Leah didn’t envy, steal, lie but glorified GOD after every child birth in choosing names... she was unloved by her own husband but loved by the eternal bridegroom.. Levi and Judah tribes come from her.. she herself bore 6 sons..

Rachel envied, stole the idol, lied to her father.. first to give her maid as wife..

People name their kids after her just for the beauty may be.. Leah is also a good name and in fact better 😊
[7/9, 9:01 PM] : God must have honored Leah’s cry for love
[7/9, 11:39 PM] : True the prayers of His parents didn’t  fall on deaf ears. 😬 Our God fulfils His promises no matter who claims them. V just need to understand the authority we have and speak them over our lives and over the lives of those we love in faith. ❤
[7/9, 11:46 PM]: It is said that after Jacob wrestles with God he had a limp all his life. Because his hip was out of joint. If Jacob didn’t cheat maybe just maybe he would have been able to meet Laban and with his parents support marry the girl he wanted without being taken advantage of and then wouldn’t have had to fight with God.
For God had already decided to bless his entire family.
[7/9, 11:47 PM] : Sometimes we mess up our own lives in pursuit of the best forgetting that His plans for us are better that even our wildest dreams.
[7/9, 11:55 PM] : We tend to assume blessing happen with miracles.. abraham, issac, jacob are testimony for how much effort it takes to get the blessing to manifest and reflect in life..
[7/10, 4:57 AM] : 👌🏼 very true.

Jacob cheated his bro tricked his dad yo get the blessing. But that didn't make his life better. He had to run for His own life soon after receiving the blessing, that too from his very own brother.

But
1. God's encounter with Jacob by dream and His Promise/covenant(made to Abraham) at Bethel.

2. Jacob's heart believing God n receiving the promise(vow)

That's the turning point. Not just that. Even while he was away from his fathers home in a foreign land *Gen 31:13*, while running away from his father in law *Gen 31:42* and while he returned after two decades with fear and distress before meeting Esau *Gen 32:9-12*, he still believed.

Life wasn't easier for him but still he believed in God n claimed His promises. Whereas Esau was mighty n had become a great ruler/nation. But one who was promised had to wait.

We often mess with our lives. But are we turning to God? Are we trusting God in difficult situation? Are we claiming His promises in impossible circumstances?