Leah, The Unloved Wife

Abraham’s grandson Jacob had two wives, Rachel and Leah. Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah by her father Laban, but the woman he absolutely loved was Rachel. When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb and caused her to bear Jacob sons but Rachel would not get pregnant. Leah thought Jacob would begin to love her since she bore him sons, but his love remained true to Rachel, who had stolen her father’s idol gods, hid them, and would not return them to him.

After Leah gave birth to her fourth son Judah, she said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Leah decided to stop craving the love of Jacob and turned her attention to the Lord. Our fulfillment does not come from man, it comes from God. He’s a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He can maneuver the king’s heart like a river that channels and turns wherever the Lord wishes.

The Lord said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love that cannot be quenched. I will build you again, for I know the plans I have for you. They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to restore your hope and give you a bright future. My thoughts toward you are so great that if you should count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore. Turn your eyes upon Me, and let Me heal your brokenness, and love you back to health.”

Isaiah 54:5-7 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called. For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

True Fulfillment

John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled."

The people saw through the fulfilled prophecies that Jesus was the awaited Messiah. But instead of following Him for that reason, they followed Him because they were getting their wants met. The Christian journey is about having an up close and personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. If that is not our first priority, then we have missed the mark. Some follow for fame and fortune, or to escape suffering, or to ensure their rightful place in heaven when they leave earth. If our aim is for the fish and loaves, then we are off our target. Our sights ought to be set on the kingdom of God and His righteousness then, Jesus said, the fish and the loaves would be added.

Matt 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Philippians 3:8 (NLT) Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.