GOD S CHOSEN FAMILY Jacob s Wife Leah God s Choice Lesson # 3 BIBLE REFERENCE: Genesis 29; 30; 31; 33:1, 2, 7; 35:16-26; 46:19, 22, 25; 48:7; Ruth 4:11; 1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 31:15;Matthew 2:18 BOOK OF STUDY: GENESIS 29-35 Season of Study: Season of Bringing the Savior into the world HISTORY: Written by Moses. Traditionally, Moses has been held to be the author of Genesis over the centuries. A number of inferential evidences favor this conclusion. 3 It would appear from a number of passages (e.g., Exodus 17:14; 24:4; 34:27; Leviticus 1:1; 4:1; 6:1,8,19,24; 7:22,28, etc.) that Moses wrote the other books of the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). It would indeed be unusual for the first word of Exodus to be and unless Moses wrote it as well. In the New Testament, our Lord seemingly attributes the Pentateuch to Moses (Matt 8:4; 19:7,8; Mark 1:44; 7:10; 10:3,4; Luke 5:14; 16:29,31; John 5:45,46; 7:22,23). Other New Testament writers follow this same approach (Acts 3:22, 1
13:39; Rom 10:5,19; I Cor 9:9; II Cor 3:15). It is therefore hard not to conclude that Moses wrote all the Pentateuch, in spite of no one air-tight statement to this effect. CONNECTING THE SEASONS: When studying the book of (Genesis, chapters 12-50) we are studying the Season of Bringing the Savior into the world. Having made the promise to mankind in the Garden of Eden that He would send a Savior (Genesis 3:15), God initiates His plan in the call of the man Abram; whose name was later changed to Abraham. From this man, God would grow a nation of people who would bring His Only Begotten Son into the world. From the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus coming into the world; being crucified, buried, and resurrected has come the promise of the Rapture and Return of Jesus. INTRODUCTION The main purpose of the Creator involving Himself in the affairs and salvation of man is to bring and broadcast the Messiah or Christ to the world. The Messiah is the means whereby men are saved and find their way back to a holy and healthy relationship with the Almighty God. Abraham was chosen as the line through whom the Messiah would come, because of the faith of Abraham. Abraham s great faith was accounted unto him as righteousness. All that would follow in the faith of Abraham would in time become the family of God. While respecting the choices of man, God uses those choices in conjunction with His purpose and plan. Jacob an integral element in the coming of the Messiah chose Rachel as a wife. However, Leah, the older sister of Rachel, was God s choice through whom the Messiah would come. God, therefore, honors the choice of Jacob in Rachel, but employs His choice of Leah, in the marriages of Jacob to bring the messiah into the world. Both Rachel and Leah would become important elements in the purpose of the Almighty. We will examine in this period of study the life of Leah (God s choice), Rachel s older sister, and Jacob s first wife. 2
THE PRINTED TEXT - Genesis 29: 22-35 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for a handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, what is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 3
35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. EXPLORING THE PRINTED TEXT It should be noted, Jacob had two wives, and not because of a lustful drive in himself. Jacob loved Rachel. However, the custom of Laban s society was that an older daughter should be given in marriage before the younger. On Jacob s wedding night; Jacob thinking that Laban, Rachel s father would deliver to his tent Rachel, however awakened to find Leah by his side. Disappointed in having been tricked by Laban, and yet loving Rachel, Jacob was promised the hand of Rachel upon the condition Jacob serve him another seven (7) years. Jacob agreeing to the condition, after the week of celebration of the marriage of he and Leah, was given Laban s younger daughter Rachel, the love of Jacob s life. Remember Rachel was the choice of Jacob, and Leah was God s choice through who the Promised Messiah would come. Let us study the traits in Leah leading God to choose her for this divine mission. I. Leah s Familiarity Paul in writing to the Church of Corinth says, But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. To demonstrate Himself as the Sovereign God, in His unquestionable power, Jehovah God has always used the weak and miserly things of the world to accomplish His purpose. God leaves us without question in certain matters of reality, that a thing happens or occurs only because of Him. God in bringing the Messiah into the world, leaves without question the truth that He, God Almighty, purposed, planned, and promoted Jesus coming into the world. From the very inception of the purpose of the Christ or Messiah, God used those persons and weak things; powerless things to bring Christ into the world in the flesh. 4
Leah, elder daughter of Laban would be referred to in our day and time as a plain Jane. Leah was just a familiar figure. The text says: II. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel, Leah was tender eyed. The basic meaning of Leah was tender eyed is that Leah was physically unattractive. Leah did not catch the eye of Jacob, as did Rachel. Her marriage to Jacob was not by Jacob s choice, but according to her father Laban, this was a cultural practice. The older of a man s daughters culturally would be joined in marriage before the younger. Therefore, though Jacob asked for the hand of Rachel, and Laban promised Rachel s hand in marriage to Jacob, Laban enforces a cultural custom and after a big feast, takes Leah to Jacob s tent on the night of the marriage. The next morning discovering the woman in his tent is Leah, and not Rachel, Jacob is angered and disturbed. Whereupon Laban then explains to Jacob this custom of marriage among his people. Jacob s love for Rachel is so strong, he commits to working for Laban an additional seven (7) years to gain the hand of Rachel in marriage. Jacob having two wives that are sisters initiates a childbearing war between Leah and her sister Rachel. Leah s Fruitfulness In this period of mankind, to have a child was the glory of a woman. More outstanding and glorious than having children, was having a boy child to carry on the name of the father. Therefore, when we read in the scriptures, And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, God does more for Leah than enable her to bear children; God blesses her womb to have boy children. Leah, while not physically beautiful, becomes the glory of Jacob in bearing six (6) sons for Jacob, and one of those sons (Judah), would become the father of the (Jews), and Jesus our Christ, the Savior of the world would become a direct descendant. 5
Leah s fruitfulness in bearing children; and especially male children overshadowed her tender eyed condition, making her special to mankind, and loved by God. III. IV. Leah s Frustration Leah loved Jacob. In following the story, without saying so we can assume that Leah loved Jacob, as much as Jacob loved Rachel. The story of Leah suggests Leah struggled to gain the romantic attention of her husband. There was a level of frustration experienced by Leah in the competition for getting to spend time with her husband, and claiming his attention. Upon the birth of her third son, the text has Leah saying: Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons. With the confidence after three sons birthed for Jacob, Jacob would now turn more romantically toward her, Leah faces disappointment again. Jacob loves Leah no more now than he had before. Rachel, Leah s young sister was the source of her frustration. Leah s Faith It is not certain as to the source of Leah s faith in the Almighty God. We can only assume from her hearing and listening to the conversation of her husband, Jacob, (as he spoke concerning the God of his fathers, Abraham and Isaac) that she grew to know the Lord. The scripture teaches, Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. The accounting of her life, and the giving birth to her children testify to the truth that Leah trusted in the Lord. At the birth of each of her children Leah is to be heard given thanks to Jehovah God for blessing her. We read, She said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. Her children were the evidence in Leah s life that God Almighty was the cause behind the birth of her off springs, and she does not fail to recognize His goodness. Leah s faith was grounded in reality. Unlike Rachel, who struggled with choosing between the idols of her father Laban, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Leah chose in faith to believe in the only God, and for her faith, Leah is the Lord s 6
choice to mother the family through which the Promised Messiah would come. V. Leah s Final Resting Place Death and burial played an important role in the lives of Abraham and his off springs. Early in the sojourn of Abraham, he purchased a burial ground for the family. The scriptures say of Abraham, speaking to Ephron the Hittite, Give me the cave of Machpelah, which you hath, which is in the end of your field; for as much money as it is worth you shall give it me for a possession of a burying place amongst you. Abraham honors his dead by providing a burial ground for future generations. Leah, unlike Rachel who was buried along the travel route in Jacob s returning home, was buried in the cave of Machpelah the ground purchased by Abraham. Leah, physically unattractive, and it is questionable as to whether Jacob ever truly romantically loved her, was divinely loved of God, and she earns a place of burial in the burial plot of the people of faith, Abraham s children. Jacob declared on his death bed, There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. In the end, Jacob recognized his marriage of Leah, as the marriage made in heaven and ordained of God. LIFE S APPLICATION In the lives of Rachel and Leah the stage is set for the development of the family of God, the family of faith. From these women, God would bring forth the deliverer of Abraham s children through Joseph, and through Judah, the forth son of Leah, would come the line through whom Jesus Our Christ would be born. WHAT WE KNOW ALREADY: PREMISE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: 7
1. God is 2. God Speaks 3. God speaks through that which has already been spoken - We believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God. WORKING DEFINITION OF GOD: God is the Personal Spirit, who in Holy Love, Creates. Orders, and Sustains all. SEASONS TO SPIRITUAL PERFECTION God created the physical universe in six (6) days. God creates the perfect universe in six (6) seasons. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of the heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:1-2). 1. Season of Beginnings - Genesis 1-3 2. Season of Boundaries and Borders - Genesis 4-11 3. Season of Bringing Christ or the Messiah into the World - Genesis 12 thru the gospel of John. 4. Season of Broadcasting Christ to the World - Acts - Revelation 5. Season of Burdens and Tribulations - Revelation 6. Season of Birthing a New Creation - Revelation 8
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