A Tale of Two Sisters

This week we looked a tale of two sisters, Leah and Rachel, as we studied, The Problem with Idols. King Solomon said that there is nothing new under the sun. And our scripture text (Genesis 29-30) confirms it. The very things that Leah and Rachel experienced all those years ago still plague us today.

Just look at the two descriptions of the sisters. "And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face." Now that's a comparison in contrasts. The outstanding attribute to describe Leah was weak eyes! Commentaries are split in exactly what this means. Some say that it means exactly what it says, she had bad eyesight. Perhaps she walked around squinting to see, she might have been prone to bumping into things. What in the world did people do when they couldn't see back then, Lens Crafters wasn't just around the corner? For someone who can't see beyond 3 feet in front of her without the aid of contact lens, I can relate to how isolated you might feel when you can't see clearly what is in front of you. Perhaps you withdraw for safety's sake or because you appear bumbling or because someone has made fun of you. Other scholars think that the Hebrew word "weak" means "dull, not sparkling or vivacious", so perhaps she was sullen and sad, depressed (maybe because she couldn't see; it could be both meanings). Either way the comparison is not favorable. Even their Hebrew names set a direct contrast. Rachel (the beautiful, lovely one) means "ewe", but Leah, on the other hand, bless her heart, means "wild cow" (thanks a lot mom and dad)!

Whatever the meaning of "weak" eyes, one thing is certain, Rachel was physically beautiful and Leah was not. Rachel was loved by Jacob; Leah was not. Ann Spangler writes how Leah might have felt, "we buried my sister Rachel today. But she is still alive. I catch glimpses of her in Jacob's broken heart, in dark-eyed Joseph and little Benjamin, his favorite sons. Rachel's sons…" So sad.

She continues by saying, "with the birth of each child the unhappy Leah hoped to secure her husband's affection. But each time her disappointment grew. She felt the old curse asserting itself: 'Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you.'" (Gen 3:16)

Rachel behaved like a victim. Her struggle was not in being unloved; Jacob adored her. She became so intensely focused on comparing herself to Leah who now has a houseful of children, that she demanded Jacob give her a child! Each of them wanted desperately something the other had. It became the only thing they could think of.

The world tells us that desperate times call for desperate measures, but God says desperate times call for more of God! In moments of desperation, we lose our balance and focus, the balance of loving people or idolizing them. It wasn't until her fourth child, Judah, that Leah simply praised the LORD (Gen 29:35). Ann Spangler said that "Leah, not Rachel, was destined to be his first AND last wife… the promise of a Savior was carried not through Rachel's Joseph but through Leah's Judah…and in the end Jacob was laid to rest next to his first wife, Leah, rather than his favorite wife Rachel."

Makes me wonder how many ways the LORD wanted to bless the sisters if they had put Him before other people. Had they made the LORD their focus from the beginning, how would their lives been different? How would ours?

This week, let's think about these things:

What happens when desire becomes the driving force in your life? Discontentment is a trap. It leads us to think that what was enough is no longer enough. What do you long for that you don't have? How can you tell if your longing has crossed the line?

What is the ultimate thing in your life? Is it balanced and healthy or is it unbalanced or lop-sided? Page 90, Kelly says, "it doesn't matter if you have it all and get everything your heart desires, or if you're left wanting and unloved. Neither works. The two women had vastly different circumstances, yet both were left hungry. Why? Because God was not their ultimate thing." What price are you willing to pay to get the ultimate thing?

Kelly says that, "no matter how amazing a person is humans always make terrible gods." Look at page 83 discuss the last paragraph, "when we esteem the world, its beliefs, or anything in the world and make it our god, it is as if we are breaking union with Christ, looking for our needs to be met elsewhere… so when we look to idols we are being unfaithful to Him. This idolatry is the root of jealousy, which is the root of fighting and quarrels and wars." Oh My or Oh Me?

Lastly, remember that we serve a God of grace. Let's praise Him. If you are like me, you've probably been beat up a little over this study, God saw Leah's suffering and had compassion on her. How aware are you of God's compassion for you? Remember that wherever you are, whatever circumstance, He is all you need, He is enough. Pray this week that nothing will hinder you from placing the LORD first and receiving all that He has to offer you.

"I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow." Jeremiah 31:13

It's All God, baby!

Donna