leah’s story: a lesson in security

I’ve always been fascinated by women’s roles in the Bible. I’ve always found it so amazing that women play just as important of a role in Jesus’s ministry (in a time when women were considered lowly), and in God’s overall plan for mankind.

The stories in the Bible are just interesting, too. They’re women with emotions and reactions that I can relate to (mostly), and they are women I can learn a lot from.

I’m reading through the Bible this year, and I was able to read the story of Leah with new perspective. (Isn’t it cool that scriptures in the Bible can mean different things to us at different times?) If you’re familiar with the blog, you know that insecurity is something I battle consistently. The more I considered Leah, the more I realized how much she must have battled with the same thing.

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

Obviously Leah wasn’t considered the beauty of the family. I don’t know what “weak eyes” means exactly. Some say it meant that she wasn’t attractive; some say she may have had some sort of condition that made her eyes look unusual. Some even say that it was because her eyes were always red and puffy from crying over the lack of a husband – yikes! But whatever the meaning, it’s said in contrast to Rachel’s good looks.

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. – Genesis 29:18, 20, NIV

Then comes Jacob, a stranger who comes in and pretty much right away wants to marry her little sister. I don’t know how old Leah was, but surely this stung. It wasn’t socially acceptable, but it also was just flat discouraging.

So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah, and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to her daughter as her attendant. When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” – Genesis 29:22-25, NIV

Her father has to trick someone into marrying her! And not just anyone – the guy clearly in love with her sister. (Although, how did he not figure it out before morning? Really?) Think of all the ammunition she had in her head against herself: I’m not the prettiest, and I’m not wanted. How often do you store up ammunition in your head against yourself? It can flare up at any time, but especially when you’re already feeling down and insecure.

Eventually Jacob does marry Rachel. You can probably imagine what their household was like.

When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” – Genesis 29:31-32, NIV

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes marriage. Then comes Leah with a baby carriage! She even names her son Reuben, which means “he has seen my misery”. Yes! She finally has value. Maybe Jacob will love her. It doesn’t work that way.

She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon (meaning one who hears). Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi (meaning attached). – Genesis 29:33-34, NIV

A pretty discouraging situation for Leah. Three sons, and her husband’s feelings haven’t warmed towards her. I was amazed at the next paragraph, though:

She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah (meaning praise). Then she stopped having children. – Genesis 29:35, NIV

The way I interpret this is that she finally got a refreshed attitude from God. He wasn’t giving her children to make her more valuable, and make Jacob love her. He was showing her she was already loved and accepted.

I like to think that from this point on, Leah grows in her security. Although she later has to deal with competitiveness with her sister, her personality appears anything but weak from this point on.

And God blessed her even further by making her part of an incredible heritage – a genealogy that led straight to Jesus Christ through Judah, the child she simply praised God for.

Disclaimer: This is just what I saw in this scripture. I don’t claim any superior insight from God or any bible scholar ability. But I really connected with Leah’s situation, the potential for her to be very insecure, and the knowledge of a God who really does hear us – more than that, he sees value in us and loves us as we are.

What do you think about Leah’s story? Do you have any different insight into it, or references I could look up?

Scriptures are quoted from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.