Good Saturday Evening Friends,
I hope you enjoy this story inspired from Genesis 29.
Leah sighed as she watched Jacob and Rachel enter the tent they shared on the other side of the compound. She could hear them exchanging cheerful banter and see their loving touches. It was obvious the couple loved each other very much. Leah instinctively placed a hand on her swollen belly and began making circular motions as if caressing her unborn child. She turned to enter her own tent. As she secured her door for the night, tears welled in her eyes. She waited until she was alone before allowing tears to slowly seep from the corners of her eyes. “He should be with me tonight,” she thought as she sank into her bedding. “My time is near. My little one will be here soon.”
As she lay on her cot, Leah thought about her strained relationship with Jacob. He’d come to live with her family after fleeing his homeland. Jacob fell in love with Rachel soon after coming to live with them. He was always trying to win Rachel’s hand. He worked for their father, Laban for seven years in order to marry Rachel, but when their wedding day arrived Laban dressed Leah as the bride and placed her Jacob’s tent in Rachel’s place. Jacob was disappointed at Laban’s deception but understood the oldest daughter must marry before the younger. He lived with Leah for a week and then agreed to work another seven years in order to marry Rachel.
After being married to Leah for a week, Jacob married Rachel. “I understand why Jacob loves Rachel. She is very beautiful and I’m very plain with nothing special to offer him,” Leah had told herself when Jacob moved in with Rachel.
She knew Jacob didn’t love her, but he respected her position as his wife and they began to have children together. She was now carrying their fourth child. As she thought about her marriage, she began to pray and pour out her sorrows to the Lord.
“Lord, You know that I have tried to be a good wife to Jacob. I have given him three sons. I just knew that he would love me by now. Rachel has not given birth to any sons. O Lord, my heart has been broken, but I know that You love me. Thank You for the gifts of my sons. I will no long cry over Jacob’s lack of love for me.”
She gave her head a little shake and felt the baby inside of her kick. She rubbed the spot where it appeared to be a baby’s foot and smiled. “I will call you Judah, little one, because this time I will praise the Lord instead of trying to win your father’s love,” she whispered as she drifted off to sleep.
A Judah Praise
Just when Your way seems very clear, and
Unexpected circumstances and setback suddenly appear,
Don’t give in to panic and fear.
Accept that God has a plan for your life
He will work it all out and deliver you from strife.
Praise Him and rest in His care.
GOD’S WORD® Translation
Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God.
Cindy Mosley 
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