Written By: Rebekah Smith
"Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful."
(Genesis 29:16-17 NIV)
In the modern 21st century that we are living in, I am surprised that the story of Leah and Rachel isn't a popular example in the church. It is almost a perfect fit to the struggles of the female population, both young and old.
But like always, we act like our problems are completely new to us and our generation. Though in some cases that is true, the idea of beauty and physical attributes being valued over a heart of gold by the world isn't.
In Genesis, Jacob makes it clear to Laban he wants Rachel, the beautiful tall and shapely one. I always think of Rachel as probably a model lheight with curves in all the right places. Think of whatever current beauty this would apply to, that would be Rachel.
But then there is Leah. Though my sister Leah is absolutely stunning, this was not the case for poor Leah daughter of Laban. The most we hear about Leah's appearance is that she has "weak eyes". People debate constantly what this means, but in actuality, look what it isn't saying. It's kind of the equivalent of saying "Well, she has a great personality". Yeah...great.
And I can guarantee when her new husband freaked out right after marrying her, that she felt insecure about her appearance. Especially since he immediately went and asked for her sister. Just some more proof that Rachel's beauty had beat her out once again.
This is often the way we feel as girls living in a fallen world. Like we are constantly being compared by those around us to the Rachel's that society has put on a pedestal.
As a disciple of Christ and a daughter of God we tend to act differently than those of the world. We live with mission and purpose; not with the desperate need for something else to fulfill us. But we'd be lying if we said that was true 24/7, 100% of the time.
Like poor Leah we want to be wanted. But just because Leah may not have had a model's body, she is recognized in Ruth 4:11 as one of the two who, "built up the house of Israel."
And though what people always remember about Leah is weak eyes, there is way more to her than her appearance. She bore Jacob six children despite how he neglected her compared to Rachel. Five of which would become the different nations of Israel, all born from Leah, one of which, being the lion of Judah from whom would come great kings including our Savior.
And though physically Leah didn't come close to Rachel, we know that based on what we see, Leah's character is one of more integrity than her scheming sister who in Genesis 31:25-35 lied about her father's stolen idols. This is not to say that Leah was holier than Rachel. After all for most of their lives they were in constant competition for their husbands affection and children. But at the end of it all when Leah had her last child, we see that though her sister may have her husbands love, she is at peace. With her last sons Judah and Zebulun she chose to praise God, Judah meaning literally "praise" and Zebulun "gift" (from God).
So, how does Leah and her story relate to us? Her whole life she was known as the "weak-eyed" sister. Her appearance was what defined her in her community. And though you may have no problems with your appearance, like Leah the world has probably given you a name to define you. It may have been something you were made to believe about yourself that isn't true or it could just be something someone said that won't leave your mind.
I'm here to tell you that none of that matters. Their opinion of you isn't worth anything. Jacob thought of Leah as just his other wife. But according to Israel's history that is not the case. Your value does not come from others ability to see it. It is from Christ who died on the cross for you to have new life. And I know that sounds like the most overused Sunday School quote you would see on a poster but it is so true. And these things that fill your mind, the names you've been called, the way you've been made feel, are just an obstacle.
Obstacles are things that have been put in place in order to slow you down. I don't run track but I know that in the case of obstacle like hurdles you have a few options with them you can just avoid them in general and never face them, you can trip over them and get hurt, or you can jump them and face the obstacle, defeat it and grow stronger.
Now I know you can see which option is best. You can't walk away from these things, because nothing haunts you like the things you don't face. You can try to brush them off but you always end up tripping and falling all over yourself and that is just a big mess. You end up more hurt than you were to begin with.
Or lastly, with the help of God we rise above these obstacles. These things that you think define you are nothing more than a challenge put in place to help you grow stronger. It may not seem like it but you are made to do great things. God has a plan to do incredible things through you if you just let Him. And I promise you He will help you through these obstacles. Because through Leah's struggles she still was a faithful wife and mother. It is the Leah's of the world who will make a difference. Despite her weaknesses, the Leah's of the world praise God.
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
(Genesis 29:16-17 NIV)
In the modern 21st century that we are living in, I am surprised that the story of Leah and Rachel isn't a popular example in the church. It is almost a perfect fit to the struggles of the female population, both young and old.
But like always, we act like our problems are completely new to us and our generation. Though in some cases that is true, the idea of beauty and physical attributes being valued over a heart of gold by the world isn't.
In Genesis, Jacob makes it clear to Laban he wants Rachel, the beautiful tall and shapely one. I always think of Rachel as probably a model lheight with curves in all the right places. Think of whatever current beauty this would apply to, that would be Rachel.
But then there is Leah. Though my sister Leah is absolutely stunning, this was not the case for poor Leah daughter of Laban. The most we hear about Leah's appearance is that she has "weak eyes". People debate constantly what this means, but in actuality, look what it isn't saying. It's kind of the equivalent of saying "Well, she has a great personality". Yeah...great.
And I can guarantee when her new husband freaked out right after marrying her, that she felt insecure about her appearance. Especially since he immediately went and asked for her sister. Just some more proof that Rachel's beauty had beat her out once again.
This is often the way we feel as girls living in a fallen world. Like we are constantly being compared by those around us to the Rachel's that society has put on a pedestal.
As a disciple of Christ and a daughter of God we tend to act differently than those of the world. We live with mission and purpose; not with the desperate need for something else to fulfill us. But we'd be lying if we said that was true 24/7, 100% of the time.
Like poor Leah we want to be wanted. But just because Leah may not have had a model's body, she is recognized in Ruth 4:11 as one of the two who, "built up the house of Israel."
And though what people always remember about Leah is weak eyes, there is way more to her than her appearance. She bore Jacob six children despite how he neglected her compared to Rachel. Five of which would become the different nations of Israel, all born from Leah, one of which, being the lion of Judah from whom would come great kings including our Savior.
And though physically Leah didn't come close to Rachel, we know that based on what we see, Leah's character is one of more integrity than her scheming sister who in Genesis 31:25-35 lied about her father's stolen idols. This is not to say that Leah was holier than Rachel. After all for most of their lives they were in constant competition for their husbands affection and children. But at the end of it all when Leah had her last child, we see that though her sister may have her husbands love, she is at peace. With her last sons Judah and Zebulun she chose to praise God, Judah meaning literally "praise" and Zebulun "gift" (from God).
So, how does Leah and her story relate to us? Her whole life she was known as the "weak-eyed" sister. Her appearance was what defined her in her community. And though you may have no problems with your appearance, like Leah the world has probably given you a name to define you. It may have been something you were made to believe about yourself that isn't true or it could just be something someone said that won't leave your mind.
I'm here to tell you that none of that matters. Their opinion of you isn't worth anything. Jacob thought of Leah as just his other wife. But according to Israel's history that is not the case. Your value does not come from others ability to see it. It is from Christ who died on the cross for you to have new life. And I know that sounds like the most overused Sunday School quote you would see on a poster but it is so true. And these things that fill your mind, the names you've been called, the way you've been made feel, are just an obstacle.
Obstacles are things that have been put in place in order to slow you down. I don't run track but I know that in the case of obstacle like hurdles you have a few options with them you can just avoid them in general and never face them, you can trip over them and get hurt, or you can jump them and face the obstacle, defeat it and grow stronger.
Now I know you can see which option is best. You can't walk away from these things, because nothing haunts you like the things you don't face. You can try to brush them off but you always end up tripping and falling all over yourself and that is just a big mess. You end up more hurt than you were to begin with.
Or lastly, with the help of God we rise above these obstacles. These things that you think define you are nothing more than a challenge put in place to help you grow stronger. It may not seem like it but you are made to do great things. God has a plan to do incredible things through you if you just let Him. And I promise you He will help you through these obstacles. Because through Leah's struggles she still was a faithful wife and mother. It is the Leah's of the world who will make a difference. Despite her weaknesses, the Leah's of the world praise God.
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."