Working for Rachel.....Getting Leah

The story of Jacob is fascinating. More so his love for Rachel. Brother loved her so much that he worked seven years for her father to earn her hand in marriage. In today's world it may be impractical to do so, and women are not considered property as they were in Jacob and Laban's time. The story goes on to say that Jacob got duped. Yep, he got the wrong sister! Dang! So what does he do? He observes another seven days of wedding celebrations and then gets his 'right' sister. But the deal was that he work another seven years for Rachel. SMH. And he did. Oh how hard he worked. The flock of sheep and herds of cattle increased while he worked for Laban. You would think Laban would let him off early but nope. Free labor.

So dude had two wives (sisters). And unlike my grandpa (yes, my grandpa had two wives as was allowed in the olden African traditions), he did not love them equally. Matter-of-fact, the Bible says he hated Leah. Poor soul. Is it not enough that she must have suffered ridicule over her cross-eyes? Some have interpreted the 'tender-eyed' statement as meaning she had wandering eyes. Rachel is described as lovely and shapely and all that jazz. Can't stand her already!

So Jacob's Leah has six children (and two by her maid). That was some kind of system... Pimping your husband to the handmaid just to have more kids. I am thinking herpes, AIDS, crabs, clap, but that is this not something they dealt with I reckon or someone would have written about it somewhere between all those wives, handmaids, and concubines and stuff, right? Rachel the pretty one is barren by God's doing...but of course there was the pimping option. ;-).

The story gets more interesting but read at your own time if you forgot the story or are not familiar with it. (Genesis 29).

Now I ask myself, who is my Rachel? What is my Rachel? I know I had a Rachel at some point in life...the male version. The dream of a knight in shining armor, the men I felt should be the one. But they had the spirit of Rachel, and were a sight on the outside but inside, had nothing to offer me that God willed for me. Don't get me wrong, I did not settle for a Leah. (My hubby is not cross-eyed or nothing, and boy is he a looker! And all mine I must add). I prolly could say I got a Jacob. LOL! My Rachels have been in form of desires and hopes that I think will bring me joy, my efforts to have more while neglecting to see that Leah is my blessing. My Leah could be the job I have now despite dreaming of a more affluent career. My Leah could be the friends around me that I at times take for granted, while seeking closeness and bonds with those who do not value me.

So many Rachels, so many Leahs.

So when you have a Leah, see through the tender eyes, see the blessings God has in store for you in her. When you have a Rachel, don't despise the Leah. Oh yeah, and God has a purpose for Rachel too. Remember Joseph? Remember Benjamin? Sometimes life is full of disappointments, oftentimes we do not see the blessings God showers us because we have grandiose requests, and we forget the little blessings that are actually BIG blessings. Good health, peaceful country, loving marriages, genuine friends, and family.

The story of Jacob, refreshed through Pastor Kung'u's sermon yesterday was a blessing. And I hope you are blessed by this too.

Peace.