Tricked into marrying Leah, Jacob loved and longed for Rachael. He had worked without wages for seven years to marry Rachael and instead of a night of passion with her, had ended up in the same bed as her sister. Jacob must have felt cheated but at the same time - guilty memories about his own past must have disturbed him. Satan uses deceit to bring us into a painful trap - Jesus said to know the truth would set us free. John 8:32.
Jacob the deceiver has been deceived! He had pretended to be the older brother when really he was the younger - now he has been deceived by thinking he was getting the younger when in reality he got the older!!!
God can break the trap / snare. Psalm 124
Now Jacob is married to Leah and is feeling cheated, resentful and at the same time a responsibility and duty towards her. As if this was not bad enough the two wives (sisters) are now rivals! The law later prohibited this kind of marriage Lev 18:18.
Background on Leah (her name possibly means “cow”)
Was she coerced or manipulated into a marriage that she didn’t want or was she a willing participant with her scheming father? Perhaps she wanted Jacob so much she was prepared to cheat to have him - no matter what!!
Background on Rachael (her name means “ewe”)
Rachael - how did she feel about her fathers treachery at the wedding. Can you imagine her all geared for the big event - she and Jacob had been sweethearts for seven years - seven years of waiting to be together! The anticipation !! The hormones!!! And her Dad just gave Leah into Jacobs tent - probably the light wasn’t so good - and she would have been heavily veiled - but where was Rachael that night? How did she feel knowing that Jacob was making love to her sister thinking she was Rachael. I bet she had a few choice thoughts/words about her father - not to mention Leah!! Instead of being Jacob’s first and only wife, her destiny is to be second in line. She must have felt hurt and betrayed by her father and her sister. She must have relived the disappointment again and again. When we do this we can become very bitter!!!
Have you been disappointed in love?
True love in a marriage is meant to bring romance, excitement as well as security, peace and joy - but it can never complete you. Cp Colossians 2:10.Marriage is not always a formula for harmony and joy. It has the potential to bring great pain and distress!
Have you been disappointed in marriage?Know that it is the works of Satan that bring hatred, pain and confusion into relationships. Satan operates through sin which destroys everything. He loves to rob and destroy marriages. Note that in this marriage neither women was happy. Leah had children - but no love - Rachael had love - but no children!
Both of these women had been robbed. Cp John 10:10.
Jesus loved us from before the creation of the world and His plan has always been to make us His Bride & He loves us Ephesians 5:25. The Holy Spirit will bring you into the joy and excitement and power of a love / romance relationship with HIM. Don’t allow yourself to be robbed. Acts 2 & 3.
God saw Leah and - opened.
When God saw our distress He opened up a way for us through the cross - through His Son. “See a Son.”
So God opened up Leah’s womb. She calls her firstborn Reuben meaning “see a son” - can you hear her hope that now her husband will love her! God saw that Jacob had no love for Leah. A quote from Calvin said that “Jacobs extravagant love (for Rachael) was corrected by the Lord because Leah deserves honour from her husband and if he will not give it to her then Yahweh will bestow glory on her.” From her seed would come the priesthood and the kings of Israel from whom eventually came the Messiah. Know that God sees your situation and if you are not being honoured - He can see to it that you receive honour and He can open doors for YOU.
Out a bad situation God can bring wonderful things!!
Leah then has Simeon meaning “heard” she feels God has heard her prayers and hopes her husband will “hear” her! Know that God hears YOU.The third son is called Levi meaning “attached or joined” - Leah is hoping that her husband will now become attached to her. If you know the Lord you are attached or joined to Him - and He is attached to YOU.She called her fourth called Judah meaning “praise.” Note that Leah has moved from longing for Jacob - to a place of praising God! She may have been in the wrong - to start with - but she is now doing things the right way and being blessed. Praise starts with hope - Psalm 42 & 43.Personal application - we can all experience the pain of rejection. However the secret for us is the same as it was for Leah - MOVE - into a “love” relationship with the Lord and start praising Him. Acts 16:25-26
Satan hates us. Even after salvation Satan wants us to believe that God doesn‘t love us (Satan’s name actually means hate).
Lessons for life.
Know that you are loved! This will change the way you think about yourself and others. God wants to have an intimate relationship with YOU through the Holy Spirit.
God does not want us to carry guilt from the past - there is forgiveness and He can work ALL things together for good. Romans 8:28
If you have used manipulation and control to get yourself into a situation that is now unbearable - remember that God sees and hears. He has committed (joined) Himself to you - choose to hope in Him. Romans 5:5.
If you are an innocent victim of circumstances remember Satan will want you to “hate and become bitter” so that you will remain “stuck” in your pain.
Know that there is POWER IN PRAISE - IT WILL SET YOU FREE. I61:3. Acts 16:25-26 Ephesians 5:18-19 Psalms 145-15