The following statement was printed in the study guide for our book. I thought this was a great opener for this week's discussion.
Many women today have husbands who love something more than their wives; jobs, position, money, sports. Many things other than another woman can put a wife in Leah's position. If you know someone who is a "Leah," pray for her and be an encouragement to her when given the opportunity.
1. Pick one word that best describes how Leah felt about this marriage to Jacob.
2. In genesis 29:32-34, Leah expresses her desire for Jacob's affection, an affection she knew she didn't have. In your own words, describe how Leah probably felt and acted toward Jacob. What do you think Jacob's reaction was?
3. Jacob was burried next to the wife he loved less rather than next to the wife he loved more. What does this say not only about Leah's position as a wife, but also as a mother of the Isrealites?
4. Although Leah was, of course, unaware of the position she was awarded in death, what do these verses continue to reveal about god's involvement in her life?
5. Leah had a full life with many sons and wealth. However, she is best known for what she didn't have: the love of her husband. god noticed what she did have but also what she lacked. what one thing do you want to learn from Leah and from her God?
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5 comments:
I can relate to Leah's impatience as that is a major area of weakness for me and a cause of recent difficulty in my life. I'm grateful to God that I now know one of my major weaknesses: now I have to have Him help me to deal with it.
How do you live with a man for so many years knowing that he doesn't love you? Poor Leah, was put in such a bad position by her greedy father. Her father only wanted to use Jacob, because he knew that Jacob's presence made him prosper. He used his eldest daughter Leah. He gave her to a man that he knew didn't love her. This must have been seen as a betrayal by Leah. That's probably why it was so easy for her to accept Jacob's request to flee from her father and go to another land that she had no knowledge of. I ache for Leah, being unloved. The first wife is supposed have honor and be adored above the others, but this was not the case for Leah. :-(
Leah's name means "Impatient" perhaps this was the reason for her sorrow. She and her father used deception and manipulation to get what they wanted. Leah clearly had a choice. She did not have to enter into the tent and pretend to be the bride that Jacob awaited.
As Pauline mentioned, I too have experienced times of impatience and made marks in my life that only God can help heal in times of weakness and self doubt. Yes, at times we all have had tendencies to be impatient; but to go to this extreme? Leah was bold, and may have derailed what God ultimately had in store for her life. But because He is a kind, loving and merciful God; he gives us exactly what we ask for, no more and no less.
She wanted the MAN; she clearly got him. Leah bore 6 sons and a daughter for Jacob yet that was still not enough to make him truly love HER. You know in life, God sends us many red flags so to speak in an effort to guide us in our decision making; but often times we fail to see things the way they truly are.
Leah and her father both knew Jacob was a willing servant for 7 years in exchange to marry Rachel. Clearly, this was a red flag to everyone that this man loved "Rachel" in so much that despite their deception he waited an additional 7 years. I don't know about anyone else, but I think my patience would have rain out even for love. It is really astonishing how much the man loved Rachel. Leah made a huge mistake and suffered dearly for it. We can't buy people, love or happiness!
Despite all that she did for Jacob she could not replace Rachel. Maybe that was partly the reason she despised her sister. Let's take a few notes; Rachel possessed inward and outward beauty, humble, respectful of God; and sincere in wanting to give her husband the ultimate gift, a son; a man's Pride and Joy. Leah on the other hand lacked inward and outward beauty and used it as a tool to manipulated even her father into getting her what she wanted through self pity. The true sorrow was the father having to watch the sisters at ought with one another and ultimately seeing Leah suffer in anguish and misery.
Although in death, Leah got what she wanted. She was the wife burried next to her husband not Rachel. In that, symbolically the generations to come would always know that Leah had been the wife of Jacob. So God did sympathize with Leah and granted her wish in death.
Wow, I can relate to Leah, most of you know what I went through in my own marriage. I have to say, I am very much at fault for the things that happened to me in my marriage. Regardless, we all have a choice to make. I learned from experience, and reading about Leah that only when you are impatient do you make bad choices. WE ALL have a problem with waiting on GOD no matter what it is.
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