INTRODUCTION: The story of Rachel, Leah and Jacob is one of the most interesting situations found in the Holy Bible. Jacob gets deceived into marrying Leah instead of Rachel. He wakes up the next morning to find out that his new bride is not the bride of his dreams. Then, he’s promised Rachel too, if he will just work for her father a little longer. Rachel can’t conceive but Leah surely can and does, giving birth to boy after boy! Jacob then starts having kids with Rachel’s maid and then he has some kids with Leah’s maid... Leah gives birth a few more times and one turns out to be a girl. After what must have seemed like an eternity to her, Rachel finally conceives and gives birth to a son. But sadly, while nearing the end of a long journey with the entire family, Rachel dies giving birth to a second son. So there goes the story of Jacob (later known as Israel) and the beginning of the twelve tribes of Israel (all those sons that belonged to the four above mentioned women added up to twelve).
Does this story sound more like a soap opera than an actual event from the Bible involving God’s chosen people? Many women have been shocked to read about polygamy and some of the specific events from the Old Testament. Especially our generation of women who frequently ask me questions like, “Did God let them away with that?” lol! Ministry on this earth has always come packaged in human flesh and even though this story is from long ago, Jacob is a great example of a man reaping what he sowed. Trust me, no one in the Old Testament or anywhere else in the Bible got away with anything. Bad decisions will always have bad results. Still though, you would be amazed at how often God uses carnal people to teach spiritual people valuable lessons. The truth is that God can use anyone from anywhere at any time to do anything that He pleases. The focus for us as women should be on the good news of the story which is: if God took a dysfunctional family like Rachel and Leah’s and began a godly heritage, there is definitely hope for us and ours!
Rachel and Leah had a complicated life, to say the least. They both lived on the opposite side of what women want. Rachel desperately wanted a child, or in today’s language, wanted something to make her feel alive and accomplished, while Leah desperately wanted to be beautiful and loved by a man. Take note that God never scorned neither idea from either of these two women. He never once scolded them for what they desired and longed for. God understands that in every woman there’s a deep desire to be loved and at the same time a deep desire to accomplish something worthwhile. The truth is that most women are somewhere in the middle of these two women’s dilemma and can usually be found fluctuating to either side depending on the season they are in.
Rachel and Leah’s story is where many familiar problems are commonly found among women. It’s where most women give up and are defeated or either persuaded to finally seek the face of God. Our most difficult circumstance can be somewhere in the middle of these two identities. It’s where we can give up and live in despair, just wishing we could live on the other side or it can be the place where we find the greatest truth about God, man and self-acceptance. The study of "Between Two Women" begins with Leah. Log on next week to find out all about her.
Loving U Like a Sister,
Regina
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