BY: Danielle Dickerson
“Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon. She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.”
Genesis 29:31-35
This summer my family and I took a road trip to head to the hills of Virginia so we could find out more about where my family came from. I was enthralled as I heard stories and saw pictures of my ancestors. I was shocked to learn our family came to America on the Mayflower but, the most important thing I learned about was my family’s spiritual lineage. As I heard the stories, I knew God’s love had been at work in my family.
Throughout the Bible, we can see the love of God reaching out to the unloved and the outcast. The story of Leah in Genesis 29 shows us this unconditional love in action.
Leah was unloved by her husband, Jacob, and she tried to earn his love and affection by bearing his children. Because children were seen as a blessing and a sign of God’s favor, she believed this would make her worthy of Jacob’s love. God saw that Leah was unloved even after she bore three sons.
When she conceived her fourth son, something changed.
Her heart changed.
Genesis 29:35 states, “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.” Instead of looking at her circumstances, or looking to Jacob for acceptance or love, she simply states “This time I will praise the Lord.”
She went from misery and lovelessness to… Praise!
To most, this may not seem like a big deal but, to God it was! God had seen Leah. He saw that she was unloved and an outcast. He saw how all she wanted was the love, attention, and affection of her husband. He saw how hard she strived to be seen, known, and loved but, her husband didn’t really love her like he should have. Once her heart changed, she chose to praise God for her blessing, for her child. She stopped striving for something here on earth. She didn’t wallow in her circumstances,blaming God for what her life had become. Instead, she chose to praise God and He rewarded her by blessing the family line of Judah. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5) because He came from Judah’s lineage. He was born of Leah’s bloodline.
God took a young lady who was unloved, unworthy and an afterthought and He redeemed her. Though she was not valued as a prize jewel to the world and He showed her how deeply HE loved her by establishing her as a beautiful part in His salvation plan; 37 generations later, Jesus would be born of her bloodline.
God’s abundant love is seen in Leah’s life. Today, we can see God’s love in how He knows and attends to the smallest details. We can see God’s abundant love in the beauty of nature or in the faces of our children. If we slow down and look, we can see God’s abundant love everywhere! The most magnificent way we can see and understand His love for us is that He made a plan of salvation for you and for me by sending His only Son, Jesus, to this world to die for our sins.
Let me encourage you to slow down this Christmas season and see how much you are loved by the Creator of the world.
No matter where you are today, God has loved you since before you were born.
No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or how much you’ve strived to prove your worth like Leah…GOD LOVES YOU unconditionally. That means we can’t earn it, we don’t deserve it, but it’s a free gift. GOD LOVES YOU! He gave His Son for you! Jesus is the greatest gift of all!!
Take some time today to look over your life –maybe to dig into your family’s history and if you really look, you will find how deeply He loves you!!
Let’s pray:
“God, I thank You that You loved me so much that You made a plan of salvation for me! Thank You for the gift of Your only Son! Help me to slow down so I may see your deep love every day! Amen.”
Daily Challenge:
What are ways you can slow down and simply enjoy this season of Christ?
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