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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Husband and Wife (08/08/14)
The God Who Sees
8/11/2014

She loved him, and she would love him forever, but she could not have him. He loved and was obsessed with another. She never received a dozen roses or a romantic night on the town. Never the recipient of compliments on her beauty, for she was plain. How she hungered to reach into the uncommitted thoughts of her insensitive husband. Her eyes, which had no sparkle, reflected deep agony. She was property with no voice and no choice.

Then one day, her meaningless existence was filled to overflowing with life. The girl was growing into womanhood, and it would be a never forgotten sensation. Her emotions intensified as she reasoned she would never be insignificant in her husband’s world again. Her dismal life was afire with eagerness as she entered this period of change. She knew she would win his love now.

When her treasured son was born, she named him Reuben. She said, “Because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” She paced slowly, child in arms, feeling some semblance of vague hope. A sense of insufferable gloom pervaded her spirit at her husband’s indifference. It was especially, upon retiring to bed late in the night, that tears rolled down her wet face with the immense weight of her bitter sorrow. Oppressed, as she certainly was, she still retained sufficient presence of mind to carry on. Hope is a powerful thing.

She conceived again and with the first glimpse of her sweet, second son, she named him Simeon. She said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, He gave me this one, too.” She was to conceive and give birth to four more strong sons and one charming daughter. Her self-centered husband no longer painted his portrait as one of a victim, however, he always cherished her sister as the object of his passionate love. Leah’s penetrating, weak eyes were always outshone by Rachel’s in Jacob’s heart. I think he never took time to gaze upon Leah with anything but near sighted haze.

Oh, but God chose this enduring lady to become the mother of Judah, the line from whom Christ was born. When others see an unattractive irritation, God sees a boundless blessing. He saw her torment and oppression, and it was intolerable to Him. He worked to accomplish His ultimate goal through Leah, in spite of her struggles and injustices. He is the God who sees value in all. He saw Leah when no one else cared to look.

“She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.” (NIV, Genesis 29:35)
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This article has been read 634 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Larry Whittington
08/15/14
This sentence and one other sentence seems out of character with the whole of the story. "I think he never took time to gaze upon Leah with anything but near sighted haze."

It feels like someone else is saying this sentence.

Otherwise a well re-written Bible story.

I liked its flavor.
Olawale Ogunsola
08/16/14
A great reminder of a bible story. It was well presented. Thanks for sharing this.
Olawale Ogunsola
08/16/14
A great reminder of a bible story. It was well presented. Thanks for sharing this.
C D Swanson 
08/17/14
Great job with this piece. The thoughts and depiction of this Biblical story were on topic and well written and well don.

I enjoyed it.

God bless~
Jason Barnett
08/17/14
I love how you brought out the emotion of this often overlooked biblical story.

I also thought your point was amazing, we may be unloved in the eyes of the world, but glory be to God he uses "the least of these."

Well done.
Phillip Cimei
08/17/14
On topic and well written. You did a wonderful job of trying to express the emotions of this bible figure. In doing so all the readers will surely have a different perspective of the story when is read again.

I thought you uses some very powerful descriptive sentences. Way to go.

God bless.
Amelia Brown 
08/21/14
Great, someone finally told Leah's story! I admit though, I didn't know it was her story in the beginning.

You had a great beginning, but the end could have been presented with a little more pizzazz.

You presented her emotions well, and has given us an inside peek into her world. Keep writing.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
08/22/14
This is a powerful piece. I think you did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life. Congratulations on ranking 8th in level one. The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.