WOMEN OF THE BIBLE – 52
WEEK STUDY
Week 7 LEAH: Leah had a full life with many sons and wealth.
However, she is best known for what she didn’t have: the love of her husband.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:
1. Genesis
29-25, 30, 49:31
2. Ruth
4:11
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
1. The Holy Bible 2. All the Women of the Bible -Herbert Lockyer
3. Women of The Bible: 52 Bible Studies –Jean E. Syswerda (Available at Rhema World)
4. www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org
SYNOPSIS:
Capable of both strong
and enduring love, she was a faithful mother and wife. Manipulated by her
father, she became jealous of her sister, with who, it seems, she never
reconciled.
More About Her:
The Biblical matriarch
Leah was the wife of Jacob and the mother of six of the twelve tribes: Reuben,
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and ZebulunLeah was the oldest daughter of Laban, Rebekah’s brother. The only physical description of her is that she had "weak eyes" (Genesis 29:17) Jacob married Leah because of a trick of Laban. Jacob ran to Haran to escape from his brother Esau. In Haran, Jacob fell in love with Rachel, Leah’s younger sister. He reached a deal with Laban that he would work for Laban seven years to marry Rachel. Jacob worked seven years and, at the end of that time, Laban made a feast at which he was to give his daughter to Jacob. Instead of giving him Rachel, however, Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Leah.
Jacob confronted Laban about the trickery and Laban agreed to give him Rachel one week later, provided Jacob would work for him an additional seven years. Jacob agreed, married Rachel, and loved Rachel more than Leah. This hurt Leah and God consoled her with children. Leah was not comforted, however, and named her sons accordingly.
Her firstborn was Reuben because "the Lord has seen (in Hebrew ra’ah) my affliction" and "now my husband will love me (ye’ehabani)"(Genesis 29:32). Her second son was Simeon because "the Lord heard (shama) that I was unloved"(Genesis 29:33). Her third she named Levi in the hope that "this time my husband will become attached (yillaweh) to me"(Genesis 29:34). Only her fourth son’s name was not directly connected to Leah’s relationship with her husband. She named him Judah because "this time I will praise (odeh) the Lord"(Genesis 29:35).
After Leah had four
children, Jacob’s next two sons were born to Rachel’s maid Bilhah. Leah then
gave Jacob her own maid, Zilpah, as a concubine. Zilpah gave birth to two sons,
Gad and Asher.
One time, during a
harvest, Reuben brought Leah some mandrakes. Rachel asked for them and gave
Leah the right to sleep with Jacob that night in exchange. Leah subsequently
conceived her fifth son, Issachar. She had another son, Zebulun, and a
daughter, Dinah, before Rachel gave birth to her first child.After Rachel’s son, Joseph, was born, Jacob told Leah and Rachel that God had commanded him to return to his homeland of Canaan. They responded that he should do what God told him and they would follow.
The next time Leah is mentioned occurs when Jacob met with his estranged brother Esau. Jacob formed a receiving line of his wives and children, putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children in the middle, and Rachel and her son at the end.
It is not written when
Leah died, but only that she was buried in the Cave of Machpelah. Leah left as
her legacy half of the 12 tribes, including Judah, father of the monarchy, and
Levi, father of the priesthood. (Taken from www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org)
LESSONS
1.
God’s can use our pain to birth His divine plans
(Leah left as her legacy half of the 12 tribes, including Judah, father of the
monarchy, and Levi, father of the priesthood.)
2.
We might not be man’s “first choice” but we are
the apple of God’s eye ALWAYS
3.
Don’t under estimate our impact on history – YOU
MATTER
LEGACY IN SCRIPTURE: (FROM WOMEN OF THE BIBLE: 52 BIBLE STUDIES –JEAN E. SYSWERDA)
READ GENESIS 29:30-34
1.
Pick one word you think best describes how Leah
felt about this marriage to Jacob
2.
Many women today have husbands who love
something more than their wives: job, position, money, sports. Many things
other than another woman can put a wife in Leah’s position. If you know someone
who is a “Leah,” pray daily for her and be an encouragement to her when given
the opportunity. What can help a woman in Leah’s position?
3.
Leah is an unparalleled example of God’s willingness
to give “beauty” for “ashes” (see Isaiah 61:1-3). How has God worked this way
in your life? How has he worked this way in the lives of your friends or
relatives?
4.
In Genesis 29:32-34, Leah expresses her desire
for Jacob’s affection, an affection she knew she didn’t have. In your own
words, describe how Leah probably felt and acted toward Jacbob. What do you
think Jacob’s reaction was?
5.
Have you ever felt unloved by your husband, your
parents, or someone else? How did you feel and act? What is your only possible
source of comfort when you desperately want a love you don’t have?
READ GENESIS 49:29-31
6.
Jacob was buried next to the wife he loved less
rather than next to the wife he loved more. What does this say no only about
Leah’s position as a wife, but also as a mother of the Israelites?
7.
Although Leah was, of course, unaware of the
position she was awarded in death, what do these verses continue to reveal
about God’s involvement in her life?
8.
Leah had a full life with many sons and wealth.
However, she is best known for what she didn’t have: the love of her husband.
God noticed what she did not have but also what she lacked. What one thing do
you want to learn from Leah and from her God?
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1. Trust God even when what He promises sounds impossible
2. Wait well - don't abort God's plan when it "takes too long" be PATIENT
3. Our "Plan B's" have consequences (Ishmael) that God never intended for us
4. God brings us sweet LAUGHTER when He delivers on His promises!