Waking Up with Leah

Smalley suggests that when things are tough in the marriage many have the thought that they have married the wrong person; and some even dare to say it out loud.

Smalley’s argument, however, is marriage brings two people together each with their character flaws, imperfections, childhood trauma, dysfunctional family issues, etc; thus, none of us are perfect therefore we all marry the wrong person.

If you are married long enough you know there are times when life feels like you are living in an all expense paid Five Star Hotel on paradise island; but sometimes you feel as if you are hanging from a thread from the edge of a mountain where hungry crocodiles await your fall with anticipation.

Smalley concludes that marriage has a way of exposing our dirty linen; and the next time we feel that we have married the wrong person perhaps its God’s way of telling you there is something about you that needs attention.

But what do you do if you thought you married David and you woke up with Daniel his best friend ladies. Or gentlemen you were sure you married Janice and woke up with Josaphine? This happened to Jacob. He thought he married the love of his life Rachel, but when he woke up it was Leah.

Waking Up With Leah.

Genesis 29:13-25-30(Read)

Understanding the passage

Jacob offered a time of servitude because he had no bride price, blinded by love he offered to serve for seven years.

The dowry was a security for the bride in case she was divorced by her husband she was not left penniless: many women wore their dowry on their person as head bands of coins for example

Verse 17 indicates that Leah (wild ox) was tender eyed:- commentators suggest that the Hebrew word used here has multiple meanings: weak or dull eyes, the same word could also be translated flattering, delicate, kind and soft. Most tend to favor the former meaning of dull or weak because the text contrast Leah with the “beautiful and well-favored Rachel”. We can therefore conclude that either only Leah’s eyes were beautiful, or she was just not pretty.

Jacob it seems was so serious about his matrimonial consummation that he did not even have a conversation with his bride (this is understandable gentlemen seven days…. I mean seven years is a long time)

Jacob worked 14 years for Rachel, but he did not have to wait that long to marry her. He married her seven days after marrying Rachel (28-30)

Jacob loved Rachel more that Leah: He showed Rachel more affection, giving her more bedroom time than Leah.

Application:

What goes around comes around:

Jacob deceives his father by switching the younger for the older; Laban returns the favor by switching the older for the younger

Jacob used the darkness of blindness to deceive his father; Laban returned the favor by using the darkness of night and the blindness of Jacob’s love for Rachell to deceive….. the bible does remind us “whatsoever a man soweth that also shall he reap. But for the forgiveness of God.

Jacob is often seen as the victim in this narrative because he was the one deceived after seven years. He is the victim because it was, he who woke up with Leah:- a woman he never loved. And she was not that pleasant on the eyes either. But have you considered everyday Leah had to wake up with Leah?

Everyday she woke up with her “tender eyes”

Every day she woke up feeling ugly because of her beautiful well-favored sister

Everyday she woke up knowing that she would have to live with stingy, deceitful Laban and possibly become an old maid because the suitors only had eyes for Rachel

Even when she got married her husband loved Rachel more than Leah.

Jacob woke up with Leah:- the sister of the woman he loved, a woman who joined with her father and deceived him, Leah who was not beautiful but tender eyed. His situation was ugly indeed. After seven years of hard work instead of enjoying a beautiful and loving relationship he ended up with two quarrelsome sisters as wife.

But Leah also woke up with Leah and while Jacob could have cancelled the marriage because he was deceived, she hadn’t such luxury.

Did you wake up with Leah this morning? That ugly situation which brings tears to your eyes, that situation with your sweet hearting or abusive spouse; the ugliness of your past that torments your present and cripples your future; the Leah of loneliness:-surrounded by family and friends but yet you are lonely, you woke up this morning and your spouse, your child, your parent and even you are ill, yesterday you had a secured job today you are fired, yesterday you were healthy today you are diagnosed with a serious illness, you are being abused by someone whom you trusted but afraid to deal with it, your child has turned his/her back on God… we all have our Leahs and if we don’t it’s only a matter of time.

God intervenes (Gen 29:31)

Hated means to show less affection.

Leah knew that it was God who was working on her behalf, but she was so overcome by her situation that it took her awhile to get to the place where God intended for her.

The naming of her children reflected her thoughts, emotions and I believe her experience with God at the time….

Reuben (vs..32).. “the Lord hath looked upon my affliction, now therefore my husband will love me.” My situation will change.

Reuben..the first syllable means “see, a son”. Leah saw in her first born more love from Jacob; an immediate gratification but a stronger message was intended by God….. I am the God who sees: These words are the lyrics of from the song the God who sees:

Hagar was a single motherShe was abandoned by the family she belonged to

She was abandoned by the family she belonged toAnd there in the wilderness with her son alone

And there in the wilderness with her son aloneWith very little provisions

With very little provisionsShe was wondering

She was wonderingShe was questioning

She was questioningDoes anyone care?

Does anyone care?

She's crying In the desertShe's lost in her despair

She's lost in her despairShe thinks nobody loves her

She thinks nobody loves herHagar thinks nobody's there

Hagar thinks nobody's thereBut God says

But God says

I will be a ring of fire around herAnd I will be the glory in her midst

And I will be the glory in her midstAnd the power of my presence

And the power of my presenceWill bring her to her knees

Will bring her to her kneesAnd I will lift her up again

And I will lift her up again

For I'm the God who seesI'm the God who sees

I'm the God who sees

Your situation may be calamitous; you might be overwhelmed but the know that God has intervened because he is the God who sees.

What’s funny about this experience is Leah was crazily overjoyed with one son and did not even know that God had already commanded her womb to produce TEN sons.

Simeon: The Lord heard that I was hated…Simeon means heard. The Lord does not only see but he also hears. This poor man cried said the psalmist and the Lord heard and delivered. Leah was so sick and tired of waking up with Leah that again she missed the fact that God hears our thoughts and therefore know our deepest need, and while we may be temporarily satisfied with immediate gratification God’s concern is also to provide our eternal need.

Levi: this time my husband will be joined unto me. Levi (attached). Her reasoning was God has blessed me now Jacob will love me as I aught to be loved. He will spend more time with me, but again she missed the lesson. When we experience our ugliness we too forget that in spite of what we face God will never leave us. He wants to be attached, be close to us

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Bottom of Form

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Judah: I will praise the Lord. Judah means praise.v. 35…

Finally, God through to Leah, finally she got her transformation, I may not be beautiful as my sister but God be praised, I may receive less attention from Jacob but God be praised, when we woke up this morning your situation may not have changed;

You are still without a job, but God be praised

Mortgage in trouble, but God be praised

Your health situation has not changed but God be praised

May still be lonely but God be praised

Because through this experience I know that Reuben_ God sees; Simeon_ God hears and Levi God is with me. Therefore, I shout Judah God be praised.

God’s intended blessings is beyond our imagination

Through the ugly Leah, God delivered Israel from bondage; Moses was a descendant of Levi.

Through the ugliness of Leah’s situation God built a priesthood…Aaron and his sons were all descendants of Levi (attached)

It is through the priesthood that God comes near to his people:-let them build me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them

From the union and confusion of Jacob’s situation Israel greatest king and giant slayer was born

Revelation 5:5.. It is Leah’s Child who can open the book.

Conclusion:

Our situation may be impossible, but I encourage all to trust God through it all because the rewards will be great.

Appeal:

If your marriage is experiencing a rush hour traffic jam with honking horns, and flashing red lights step back, take some time and as God what are we saying to me Lord?

Take five minutes every day this week and talk to God about your Leah because he sees, hears, wants to be near you and deserves our praise.

Whatever your situation trust God to provide a solution.

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