Sandy's Devotional

Sandy's Devotional:

When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. 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. (Genesis 29:31-35)

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: “LORD, save me!” The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. (Psalm 116:1-7)

Leah was an unloved and unappreciated wife. She was neglected and possibly felt unattractive. She yearned for her husband’s acceptance. The names of her first three sons show her preoccupation with being loved. At the birth of her fourth son, we see a new perspective, a new hope – it seems that she’s taken her eyes off of her situation and looked to God as she called her son “I will praise the Lord.” (Later, Leah will again take her focus off God and rival with her sister, but for the moment, she is focused and praising God for His goodness and concern for her.) The Messiah, Yeshua, the descendent of Judah, came from Leah – the woman who learned to look to God, rather than the circumstances, to remember His goodness and to allow God to turn her heaviness into praise. May God bless us with praise instead of sorrow, with joy instead of grief and help us to focus on His goodness. “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits!” (Psalm 103)