Intro. The lack of thankfulness is the greatest problem of most of our lives. If we were thankful, we would live differently.
Psalms 92:1 "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:" The Hebrew word is one that is a synonym of a word that means to stretch out the hand. When we thank God, we stretch out our hands in gratitude to Him. The same word is translated “praise” 53 times. The first time this word is used in the Scriptures is found in our text.
I. The Dejection of Her Home - vs. 16-17
A. The Deficiency - Leah was the Tender Eyed one!
1. Some say it speaks of her sensitivity, that she cried easily, eyes stayed red.
2. Some say it speaks of physical appearance, tender weak eyes would squint.
3. Some say the only beauty she had was in her eyes.
B. The Deceit
1. She was forced to Live in the Shadow of Another.
Rachel was desired, she was not. Jealousy, hurt, rejection, all were a part of her life.
2. She was forced to Live in the Scheming of Her Father.
Her name means weary - she was weary of not being loved, even by her father. I can’t imagine a father looking at his daughter the way Laban did Leah. He felt the only way she would be wanted was to trick someone into marrying her!
II. The Disappointment of her Heart -
A. The Disapproval - imagine her pain when Jacob woke up the next day and still wanted Rachel. - vs. 25
1. The Pain of Rejection - it was personal - In the custom of that day, the bride was heavily veiled. Leah was probably almost identical in size to Rachel. When the sun rose, and Jacob saw his wife, he found Leah instead of Rachel. And Jacob left to protest, instead of embracing his new wife.
2. The Pain of the Reproach - it was seen in the community.
B. The Disregard - vs. 31 She was “hated.” Now it did not mean Jacob hated her with a heart of malice. He took care of her,- but he demanded another! Compared to the love Jacob had for Rachel, his feelings for Leah was called hate.
1. She was “less loved” by Jacob.
2. She faced great pain - her father, now her husband let her down, but something was about to happen in the midst of her trouble.
Have you been let down by someone? You are in good company. But Grace was about to be evident.
III. The Delight of Her Heritage - vs. 31-32
John Phillips, “There is a poetic justice inf the dealsings of Gdo with men.” Jacob had been a deceiver, now he was deceived by Laban. Like it or not, he was married to Leah. She was pushed back for a time, as though she did not exist. But there was a problem, if Jacob would have sons, they would come through Leah!
A. God Directed His Attention toward Her
1. The Lord Noticed Her Predicament (He saw).
2. The Lord Touched Her Physical Body - God allowed her to have the blessing of a child.
B. God Demonstrated His Attention - Provided for her - Sons
1. Sons Represented Prosperity (Workers, Dowries into the family).
2. Sons provided Preservation of the Family line.
3. A Son could be the Messiah!
Even Eve thought Cain could have been the delivering son. And God gave Leah sons! In the midst of her rejection, God blessed her. Her inheritance came from God in a time that man had done her wrong.
IV. The Display of Her Hopes - She just wants acceptance, and it is seen in what she named her sons.
A. Through Her First son she expressed Her Desire -vs. 32 Reuben “behold a son”
1. She Acknowledged the Lord (Jehovah).
In this wicked family there was a sliver of light!
2. She Acknowledged His Look - “hath looked” same word as “saw” vs. 31.
3. She Acknowledged her Longing - God has seen me, maybe now my husband will look toward me! She desired attention.
B. Through Her Second son she expressed her Disappointment - vs. 33
We all face disappointments. A little time has passed, it has been over a year, we are not sure exactly how long, but she had not gotten the attention to the level she desired. But now God gave her a second son. Simeon - “Heard”
1. Though she had a son, she was still Ignored.
2. Though she had a son, she felt alone.
3. Now she had a second son, and felt she had been heard.
God has heard me! Maybe now my husband will hear my cry!
C. Through Her Third son she expressed her Discouragement - vs. 34
She was lonely, and another year or so has passed. A third son is born. Leah lived as the outsider, but she was the only wife that was having children. So when the third son came, she named him - Levi - Joined.
1. Through this son she hoped for recognition.
-I want to be seen, nothing. I want to be heard, nothing. Someone just to be close!
2. Through this son she hoped for reconciliation - She does not appear to acknowledge God by her words this time, but I believe she does merely in the name. God has been close to me, maybe my husband will now be close to me. BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE HAPPENED
D. Through Her Fourth Son she expressed her Decision - vs. 35
She is in the first 10 years of her marriage, and she has lived on the sidelines. But she had found refuge in her relationship with God.
Her husband had not seen her. Her husband had not heard her.
Her husband was not close to her. And she no longer needed his attention to be happy! NOW WILL I PRAISE THE LORD! (Praise -first mentioned - thanksgiving!)
1. She no longer needed others for her Happiness.
2. Her joy and praise was in Her LORD!
She began to praise the Lord and called her fourth son - Judah - Praised.
Concl. Think about this! In Leah’s 3rd son - Levi - joined, was the earthly father of the priesthood that would make the sacrifices that would reconcile man to God. Levitical priesthood (Moses, Aaron, and all OT priests). In her 4th son - Judah - God honored her praise!
- The Throne of David was established through this son!
- The Messiah came from the son she called Praise
Psalms 76:1 "In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel."
In the third and fourth sons of Leah would embody the complete priesthood from God. LEAH WAS THE DESPISED BRIDE, and the way of restoration of man to God came through the despised Bride. (Proving she was God’s will for Jacob)
Today the world despises the church, but God will reconcile lost man through a despised Bride! Now that is something for which to be thankful! In the midst of troubled lives, we have much for which to be thankful. Not the least is a Priest, a Savior, giving us access to God.
Through Him - We are seen of God. Through Him - We are heard of God.
Through Him - We are joined to God. So no matter what - why don’t we Praise Him? For what do we have to be thankful.
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
