Genesis 29:31-32 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 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.”

I find Leah to be one of the most interesting women in all Scripture. She is quite ordinary really and had life experiences not so different from many women in today’s world. She was not attractive in the way the world assigns beauty for it is recorded that she had “weak eyes.” As if to rub it in, this statement is followed by: “but Rachel was lovely in form and beautiful”. (See Genesis 29:16-17). What kind of relationship could these two sisters have?

When their cousin Jacob showed up, their Father Laban welcomed him not so much as a nephew but as a valuable farmhand and possible husband for one of his daughters. Laban set Jacob’s wage to include one of his daughters. But Jacob was already in love with the younger, beautiful Rachel. So after Jacob had labored 7 years for his bride, Laban pulled a switch on him in the night and sent in Leah instead because he said: “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.” (Genesis 29:26) This set me thinking: how can anything good come of this mess? It would have unleashed every negative emotion possible in all parties concerned.

Wait just a minute. Let me introduce you to two little words that every child of God should get familiar with: “But God”. Remind yourself often that God’s plans cannot be thwarted, not by man or demons so no situation is ever hopeless. People can scheme and manipulate, but God alone is just and oversees it all. Leah became the hated wife, but God had his eyes on her and his ears were open to her prayers. Not only did she become the mother of six sons and a daughter but Judah, her fourth son, is part of the genealogy of the Lord Jesus.