“God never witholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God’s refusals are always merciful–“severe mercies” at times but mercies all the same. God never denies our hearts desire except to give us something better.

Elizabeth Elliot

The story of Leah is not only a story of sibling rivalry and family drama, but also a story of a woman’s journey in life. Most of us,  live our life day by day, situation by situation. Seeing only as far as the horizon and understanding only what our human minds can hold. Amidst the situations Leah was placed in, there is a woman’s heart, a woman’s soul, and a woman’s legacy. But most importantly, there is the care, love, and provision of a beautiful God for this ordinary woman. 

What we know from Scripture is that Leah was a mishandled daughter, envied sister, unloved wife, and mother of 7 children. Looking at the facts, it may seem that all was against her. Naturally, she had every “right”, in the human sense, to be bitter and resentful. But if we move out and expand our view, we see a chosen matriarch. 

After deceptively being given to Jacob as his first wife, instead of Rachel, Leah finds herself in a loveless marriage. Not only that, but the one who received all of her husband’s love was her sister. Her sister who “was beautiful in form and appearance”(Gen.29:17). But God, “saw that Leah was hated” and “opened her womb”(Gen.29:31).  

From the beginning of her Biblical appearance, we see her predicament, but we also read that GOD saw her predicament. He saw, and he acted; in love and compassion. 

Leah begins her marriage possibly with the hope that even though her husband did not love her now, he would come to love her one day. She closely associates what is going on in her relationships and life with the names she gives her children, particularly her sons. She gives birth to her son Rueben. We know that she felt afflicted by the lack of love of her husband and believes that this son will bring that love to her. By the birth of her second son, the situation has not changed, but now includes the Lord and the comfort of another child. With her third son, she figures, that Jacob has no choice but to be attached to her because she is the mother of his first three sons. Perhaps by now, she figured she cannot make him love her but he must be connected to her. Finally, we get the fourth son, Judah., which is to say, “now I will praise the Lord. “

Leah goes on to have more children. But what we see here is the way God has worked through her suffering to produce a sufficiency that no one else could give her. Not a husband, not a sister, not a friend, not a child. Only the Lord. I could imagine this was not an easy lesson for Leah. But it was necessary. God had to bring her to a place of surrender from what she thought she wanted, to the place God had already planned. What Leah may not have known or realized, is the bigger plan God had in mind. This woman was to be the mother to most of the tribes of Israel. Most specifically, the mother of the tribe of Judah, from which the Messiah would come. She was buried alongside Sara and Rebekah, the other two matriarchs. 

What can we learn from this? To be a long-suffering wife? Having children will replace the love we are missing? No. We learn that we have a God that sees us, hears us, knows us and acts accordingly. He may not give us what we want or think will make us happy. But, He gives us what we need to shape us into what will accomplish His plan and bring him glory. 

Dearest Believer, I don’t know what hurtful situation you are in or the suffering you may be going through. No other human being can know exactly what any other is going through. Leah may have felt taken for granted, lonely, always striving for approval; but never reaching the inner peace of contentment and satisfaction. You may feel this way as well. As we read the story of Leah, let us not forget the most important character: El Shaddai, The All-Sufficient One. His loving responses are not to be overlooked.

She was hated…He saw, and opened her womb (29:31)

She was afflicted…He looked upon her (29:32)

She has hated…he heard (29:33)

She prayed…God listened (30:17)

Leah’s actions are not always commendable or faithful to God, and neither are ours at times of pain and distress. But the beauty of all of this is God’s mercy and compassion on an ordinary woman that God would use in an extraordinary way.  His plan was to raise up a nation from Jacob. A nation that would be called God’s chosen people. A nation from 12 children that would generations later produce the Lion of Judah, the Savior of the world. Leah was a part of that plan. You and I are a part of God’s plan. It may not feel like it or seem like it, but we are part of the tapestry God has woven from the beginning of time. Cling to the truth of God’s supreme Sovereignty and find His peace among the afflictions. For, “after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).

The Lord be with you, 

Bianca