Encouragement

To Love and Not Be Loved

by Agatha Mangwende 
04/12/16
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"Life is like an egg in one's hand. So delicate; so unpredictable". Author unknown.

Have you ever desired something so much; yet every time you think you are within reach, the thing kind of vapors into thin air?

You could be single, and have been waiting and waiting for that far-off marriage proposal which never comes. Or it could be an endless search for a job, which never materialises into anything. For some, it is years and years of trying for a baby, with no success at all.

There is a woman in the Bible, whose name is Leah (Genesis 29). Leah was the daughter of a wealthy man named Laban. She was the eldest of the two daughters. Her only notable feature was her weak eyes, whether in a sexy way or not, the Bible does not say. While she had just that one characteristic, it is said of her younger sister, Rachel, that she was 'beautiful in every way, with a lovely face and shapely figure' (v17).

Given the choice, I would have loved to be a Rachel, who wouldnt? But unfortunately, the truth in life is that while some of us are Rachels, a lot of us are Leahs.

Cousin Jacob was so mesmerised by Rachel's beauty that he offered to work as her father's slave for seven long years, after which he would be rewarded with her hand in marriage. What a romantic story!

But what about weak eyed, older sister Leah? Were there any offers for her, at all, even for one year's service? Absolutely none at all, and how sad!

So at the end of seven years, Laban decided to trick Jacob, by giving him the older sister instead of the younger. He had to get her married off somehow, and this was the only opportunity.

But this arrangement did not go well with Jacob. He was upset; he had worked seven long years for the young beautiful Rachel, not for passed over, dull Leah. So Laban offered to give him Rachel in exchange for another seven long years of service; to which he quickly agreed without any hesitation. This conversation and transaction happened the morning after poor Leah's quiet entry into marriage.

Can you even start to imagine what she must have felt. After spending such a blissful night with her, Jacob quickly dismissed any romance between them, by agreeing to work seven more years for his beloved Rachel. It was good for Rachel to be loved that much, lucky girl! But how painful it must have been for Leah, to suffer such rejection and humiliation on the first morning of sharing the marriage bed with the man she had also come to love for seven years. She had to have known of her father's plan and agreed to it, and both were hoping it would work. They had figured that since Rachel was young and beatiful, she would have no problem getting another suitor.

But relations don't always work out the way we figure, do they? So for Leah, there began a marriage relationships that met the physical partnership, but mostly lacked the companionship of a couple in love.

She was so disappointed in her marriage, that she put her focus on her children; naming them as God opened her womb and closed Rachel’s.

1. Reuben - because she thought that now that she had a son, maybe her husband would now love her. It didnt work.


2. Simeon - another son, maybe this will now work. It didnt.


3. Levi - three sons, surely my husband and I should be on the same page now. He wasn't.


4. Judah - son number four. But this time she no longer yearned for the love of her husband. She removed her focus from her husband and gave herself over to the God who ordained marriage. She named her son Judah, (meaning ‘Praise’) and turned and worshipped God.

Leah did not walk out on her marriage; she perseved. But her focus changed, from the source of discontentment to the God who would fill every void in her heart.

I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever; Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens”. Psalm 89:1-2

 http://agiema.blogspot.com/2016/04/to-love-and-not-be-loved.html
 

Previous Related Posts:

http://agiema.blogspot.com/2016/04/when-all-your-relationships-go-sour.html

http://agiema.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-third-person-in-relationships.html

http://agiema.blogspot.com/2016/03/why-relationships-are-complex.html