We know her as the older daughter of Laban who became caught up in his deceptive plot. Listen as Liz Curtis Higgs returns to the program to unpack the Old Testament redemption story of Leah, wife of Jacob.
Liz points out a number of elements in the story:
• Leah’s description: a woman with “gentle” eyes, rather than “weak” eyes. She was defined by her character rather than her beauty, but there’s nothing in the text to suggest she was not attractive.
• Rachel’s description: “lovely in form, and beautiful.” Liz calls her the outstanding-looking sister, which means Leah looked plain by comparison.
• Culturally, Jacob would be expected to work three and a half years for Rachel’s hand in marriage – he is so in love with Rachel that he chooses to work twice as long.
• Laban deceives Jacob by not outrightly promising to give him Rachel. Jacob, the deceiver, is suddenly the one being deceived.
Liz shares her thoughts on Laban’s deception.
“Jacob didn’t ask for Rachel by name [in verse 21]; he asked for his wife… Jacob doesn’t say to Leah, ‘What is this you have done to me?’ He says to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me?’ Jacob is a trickster but he has been out-tricked by his uncle… We never saw Jacob seeking God’s will for whom he should marry. He followed the flesh rather than the spirit.”
Here are some takeaways from Leah’s story:
• Leah stays the course; Liz says it must have taken “every ounce of God’s strength within her.”
• God, Creator of the universe, can look deep into a woman’s heart and see the lack of love that she is living with.
• God knew that the best way to bless Leah in that culture was to give her a son. “Jacob never gave her love. But God did.”
Key Scriptures: Psalm 62:5; Genesis 28-29
Featured Songs: Flawless by MercyMe; Made New by Lincoln Brewster; Your Grace Finds Me by Matt Redman
