Theme: Leah and Rachel
Text: Genesis 29:16-29
Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!
Introduction: We are meditating the Biblical leaders with a call to remember, to consider, and to imitate them. Today we are looking into two important characters of the early history of the nation of Israel, Leah and Rachel.
LEAH AND RACHEL
Torah tells us about their roles as wholly righteous women and founders of the Jewish nation. Rachel and Leah are Sisters, rivals, mothers, and matriarchs. Their story reveals strong emotions of rejection, shame, and jealousy. However, God shows His control over their situations. He demonstrates His care and concern for their hearts. Leah was a homemaker, Rachel was an outdoor professional. The following verses refer to the names of Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:16, 17, 31, 31:4, 14, 33:2, 7, Ruth 4:11). According to one tradition of Rabbis, they were twins (ref: Ruth 4:11 mentions in the order as Rachel and Leah).
LEAH
Leah means “cow”. Leah is described as having “soft (lovely) eyes” (Genesis 29:17). Leah first appears in Genesis 29 as daughter of Laban, and an older sister of Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel and served Laban for seven years (a bride-price) to marry her, as per an ancient Near Eastern wedding contract. The gift of the groom was called a MOHAR in Hebrew (Genesis 34:12). Gifts may include furniture, clothing, textiles, jewellery, servants, or land.
1. She had a chaotic wedding
After the wedding feast, in the dark of evening, Jacob goes in to consummate the marriage, but Leah has been substituted for her sister; in the morning, Jacob claims that “It was Leah!” (Genesis 29:25). The deceiver had been deceived, everyone reaps what they sowed (Galatians 6:7). This is a multiple reversal: the trickster has been tricked, and the man who supplanted his elder brother married the elder sister.
Leah was supposed to marry Esau but now Jacob has the portion of Esau, so he has to take Leah along with the Birth rights. Leah became a Card played by the players according to their wish and whims. Leah was treated without dignity that continued till her death. Leah died before Jacob (Genesis 49:31).
However, the Rabbis lavish in their praise of Leah. She became the mother of Priestly tribe of Levi and Kingly tribe of Judah, these two tribes were superior to all the rest. Toward the end of his life, even Jacob admits that Leah is the “head of his bed”. Leah died before Jacob (Genesis 49:31). Leah is buried in the tomb of the Patriarchs along with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Jacob (Genesis 49:31).
2. She was a Silent Sufferer:
She was a struggling lady. Lifelong challenges with her own sister because of the decisions of the male dominated society. Leah had been pushed into a loveless marriage by her father so more than likely she felt very much unloved by him also. The father in this case appears to have arranged this marriage at the expense of both his daughter’s happiness due to his greed. Jacob may have had some very negative feelings toward Leah because he had obtained her through deception.
Leah is a symbol of millions of the women down the History who were forced into the marriage, has married life without the consent, without love, without care, concern, and interest. In the name of culture, customs, and for the dignity of the parents, how many had lost their precious sweet life. She became a child bearing machine
Leah wanted the love of her father, the love of her husband, but came to know the love of God Almighty instead. The one who mattered the most, she now knew loved her. Leah appears to accept God’s grace as sufficient. She was dishonoured (Genesis 30:20). . Bible repeatedly records that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.
3. She was a Prophetess
Leah was a prophet, and the names she gave her sons allude to each tribe’s future. Genesis 29:21 states “Hashem saw that Leah was hated” (Genesis 29:31). The text does not say Jacob hated Leah, but says simply that Leah was hated. She not only unloved, but hated. God saw her and had compassion and “opened her womb”. Leah gives birth to four sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Zilpah, Leah’s maid, gives birth to Gad and Asher. Then, Leah gave birth two sons and a daughter: Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.
Reuben, (because the Lord has seen my affliction, surely now my husband will love me - Genesis 29:32). Simeon (The Lord has heard I am unloved - Genesis 29:33). Levi (now my husband will become attached to me -Genesis 29:34). Judah, (I will praise the Lord - Genesis 29:35).
Leah hoped against hope that giving birth to three sons would draw her husband to her. It appears though that with the birth of her fourth son there was a true turning point in her life where she becomes satisfied to just praise the Lord. The Midrash asserts that from the day that God created His world, Hashem was not praised by anyone until Leah said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” (Genesis 29:35).
Gad (What good fortune! – Genesis 30:11), and Asher (How happy I am! The women will call me happy – Genesis 30:13). Issachar (God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband – Genesis 30:18), Zebulun (God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honour, because I have borne him six sons – Genesis 30:20). She gave birth to a girl named Dinah.
RACHEL
Rachel means “ewe”. Jacob clearly prefers Rachel over Leah (Genesis 29:30). Jacob began a journey of 500 miles to meet his maternal in Haran. Jacob was instructed by his mother to marry one of the daughters of Laban. He met Rachel, Laban’s daughter, Jacob’s first cousin, appears with her father’s sheep. It is stated she is a shepherdess. Laban cheated Jacob by giving Leah instead of Rachel, so they had to go for another agreement to complete another week of service for Rachel. Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, bears two sons, Dan and Naphtali. Finally, Rachel gives birth to Joseph—after seven long years of waiting Benjamin was born (Genesis 35:16–18).
1. She was symbol of A Pride and Arrogance
Jacob has already fallen in love with Rachel at first sight. True story of love at First Sight for Jacob but not for Rachel. His love for her never seems to fade up to the day she dies. The love she may or may not have had for Jacob is never mentioned. Our security will never be in people but only in God. Jealousy can destroy family relationships. Our hurts can carry over to the next generation if we are not careful.
2. She despised Her Husband’s love
Bilhah had two sons, Dan and Naphtali, for Rachel. Rachel is remembered by God and gives birth to her first son, Joseph. (Gen. 30:22). She named this child “Ben-oni” (son of my sorrow). Rachel died after giving birth. Jacob renamed him Benjamin. He is the only son of the twelve belonging to Jacob who is born in the Promised Land.
After all the years of competition with her sister, she ended her life in sorrow instead of victory. Rachel is buried between Bethel and Bethlehem. The wording “died, to my sorrow” (Genesis 48:7) teach the Rabbis that Rachel’s death was the harshest of all the troubles that befell Jacob.
The Rabbis further learned from Jacob’s words that a wife’s death profoundly affects her husband. Rachel Weeping for Her Children (Jeremiah 31:14–16). Jacob buried Rachel “on the road to Ephrath.” Jacob saw with the spirit of divine inspiration that when the Israelites would set out to exile, they would pass through Bethlehem on the road to Ephrath. So that she would pray for them.
3. She was a troublemaker
Rachel may have had all the outside appearance of beauty, but inside she displays envy, jealousy, anger and bitterness toward not having any children. She comes off as a self-serving, manipulative woman and, instead of enjoying the company of her nephews, schemes to have children of her own.
In the MIDRASHIC portrayal, Leah and Rachel were like two rafters of a house extending from one end of the world to the other.
Conclusion:
More beauty, more favour does not mean more blessed than others. The sufferers are never the losers and defeated soldiers. They receive enormous and countless blessings of God. Never think bad and miserable about what you do not have, but always move forward with faith in God regardless of the circumstances, on what you do have and go through. Ultimately the honours come from God, Amen.
