Leah

Leah Genesis 29:33-35 She became pregnant again and had another son. "God heard," she said, "that I was unloved and so he gave me this son also." She named this one Simeon (God-Heard). She became pregnant yet again—another son. She said, "Now maybe my husband will connect with me—I've given him three sons!" That's why she named him Levi (Connect). She became pregnant a final time and had a fourth son. She said, "This time I'll praise God." So she named him Judah (Praise-God). Then she stopped having children.  (The Message Bible) The book of Genesis introduces us to Leah. Leah is the eldest daughter of Laban and is described as having a weak eye. We find that Leah suffers from feeling unloved, unwanted and dishonored by her husband Jacob. As the story continues we find that Leah is constantly in battle with her sister Rachel who is also Laban’s wife. The two battle back and forth, bearing children and providing mistresses for their husband. I wonder how many women have ever felt unloved, unwanted or dishonored by someone who we truly love and admire. Have you ever given someone control over your emotions or allowed them to make you feel a certain way. A way other than what God designed for you. Leah looked to her husband for approval. I tend to believe it had something to do with her weak eye. Our eyes are the window to our soul and our soul is where we think and process our thoughts and emotions.  In this area Leah was weak; she looked to other people to fill what she felt was missing instead of to God and because of this, she suffered for many years. If you continue reading the story, you find a connection with Leah giving birth to her children and giving birth to her God-given identity. Leah began pulling in the pieces as she named her children. I can only imagine as she connected the dots… Oh yes! God has heard that I am unloved by my husband (Simeon). “Wow I am having yet another child, I am really feeling a connection now (Levi). When Leah had her fourth child, she named him (Judah). We learn that Judah literally means Praise God! See God had poured enough into Leah that she began believing him. What once was considered a weak eye became a discerning eye. Now I am not claiming by any means that Leah was perfect from this point forward and she did go on to have more children with her husband but I am suggesting that she took a chance on God. She started to believe that he cared for her and that he was concerned about her well-being. If you have ever given anyone in your life power over your emotions or if you are anxiously waiting on someone to make you feel loved, wanted or honored, STOP waiting and START praising! Praise God for turning your weak eye into a discerning eye! Much Love, Mrs. Misenheimer Sign up now to receive your free copy of The Invitation.