Unloved and Unwanted
John 4:7-9
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
John 4:15-18
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
The Jews would be under no kind of obligation to the Samaritans—would borrow nothing from them—would not drink out of the same cup or well with them—would not sit down to meals with them, nor eat out of the same vessel—would have no religious connection or any commercial dealings with them.
The Jews cursed the Samaritans, and believed them to be accursed. Their most merciful wish to the Samaritans was, that they might have no part in the resurrection; or, in other words, that they might be annihilated.
With this insight, I trust you can see why the woman was amazed that Jesus was communing with her. This woman truly was unloved and unwanted by the Jews. If that wasn’t bad enough, she had been through five husbands and was living with a man now. It is evident to us looking back that she didn’t find the love and acceptance she so desired in religion (man made) or marriage.
Can you relate? Are there groups, individuals, churches, etc that have shut you out and made you feel unloved and unwanted? Have you been through relationship after relationship only to be hurt time after time? Do you feel unloved and unwanted by your spouse? Do you feel unloved and unwanted by your parents? If so, I know you will be blessed and encouraged by this message.
Gen 29:30-35
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Jacob worked 7 years for Rachel and ENDED up with Leah. This speaks in principle in one sense of those devote all their time and energy towards a specific goal and fall short of it in the end. This is one reason many people have decided not to ever step foot in another church. Simply being, after being told one thing in the beginning and then devoting all their time, talents, and finances towards the vision, they saw things come out different in the end.
Note that Jacob ended up with Leah. The word ended is rendered, “to come to an end.” The truth here is that a seven-year period in Jacob’s life came to an end. He started this period with Rachel and ended it with Leah. In his mind, he started out good and ended bad. Can you relate?
Jacob is upset with Leah and doesn’t mind if Leah and the whole world know it. The principle being, Jacob is upset with this period of his life. Can you hear him saying, “It isn’t right?” The person in this type of situation will let you know that they are ticked-off and could care less if everyone else knows it. Are you in a period now in your life where it seems like things just aren’t fair? The good news is, this period must end and give way to a new period.
Leah’s name in Hebrew means to be weary, to be offended, to be exhausted or wore out, to be tired of doing something. Can you see the principle? Jacob ended up in a place of EXHAUSTION! He had worked hard and still didn’t get what he wanted.
How many of you have labored much in the ministry or relationships and feel like you have come to a period in your life where it doesn’t seem like you will reach your destiny? The good news is; you must go through this period in order to enter into the next period of your life.
Leah’s Dilemma – She was loved less than Rachel
Everyone needs to feel loved. Jesus teaches us to love in Matthew 22:37-39 where it reads, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Principle: You can only love others to the degree that you love yourself.
If you don’t think much of yourself, you probably will not think much of those around you. And, if you aren’t pleased with yourself, you will be judgmental and those around you will never be able to please you, for you will always find something wrong in their life.
The main reason people can’t love themselves is the fact that they don’t really know who they are. Simply being, we are made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26). We are His image in the earth. With that insight, how can I love God and not love myself?
I Jn 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Note that it says, “Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. This lets us see that it is possible to be born again and not have love for people.
I could give you the analogy of a baby. Simply being, the baby can be born into the world, but it will take a relationship being established between the baby and the parents in order for the baby to be able to love. Now, if the baby is born and no love is shown to it, the baby will have a hard time expressing love to others when it grows up.
With this insight, you can better discern those that have an intimate relationship with the Lord verses those that are just born again and going through the motions.
I think it imperative to point out that though we are taught to love one another from the scriptures, there are many that fail to do so for one reason or another and as a result, there are many in the world today that do not feel loved. The following illustrations bear this truth out so beautiful.
Ida Fay Oblesby, writing in the P.E.O. Record (January 1983), tells the story of a little eight-year-old girl in a Pennsylvania orphanage who was shy, unattractive, and regarded as a problem. Two other asylums had her transferred, and now this director was seeking some pretext for rid of her. One day someone noticed this little girl was writing a letter. An ironclad rule of the institution was that any communication from a child had to be approved before it was mailed. The next day, the director and her assistant watched the child steal out of the dormitory and slip down to the main gate. Just inside the gate was an old tree with roots showing above the ground. They followed and watched as the child hid the letter in one of the crevices of the root. Carefully looking around, the little girl scurried back to the dormitory. The director took the note and tore it open. Then, without speaking, she passed the note to her assistant. It read, “To anybody who finds this: I love you.”
A woman once told the story of her childhood. She was a victim of polio and felt she was a burden to everyone including her own family. She felt unloved and unwanted. She said, “When my mother left me in Sunday School, I always asked to wear her locket. She thought I liked the locket. That wasn’t it at all. I knew I wasn’t worth coming back for, but I knew she would come back for the locket.”
Who will cry for the little boy, lost and all alone? Who will cry for the little boy, abandoned without his own? Who will cry for the little boy, he cried himself to sleep? Who will cry for the little boy, who never had for keeps? Who will cry for the little boy, who walked the burning sand? Who will cry for the little boy, the boy inside the man? Who will cry for the little boy, who knows well hurt and pain? Who will cry for the little boy, who died and died again? Who will cry for the little boy, a good boy he tried to be? Who will cry for the little boy, who cries inside of me? Who will cry for the little boy, I will cry, I always do.
I realize that even with all the above mentioned, there will still be some that would dare to say, “you don’t know what I am going through.” They will say, “I even wonder at times if God even loves me.” So, for the sake of touching the hearts of these, I want to take you in the scriptures and give you some people that can identify with your pain.
David felt alone at times as can be seen in Psalms 142:4 where it reads, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
I think it imperative to point out the desperation that David was in. One, there was no man that would know him. The word know here is rendered in the Hebrew to acknowledge. Simply being, no one paid attention to what I was going through. Two, refuge failed him. A refuge is a place where one can go when in trouble. Thus in principle, the ones that he once could run to are now not there for him. Three, no man cared for him. The word cared here means to seek or to ask. The principle being, no one came to check on David and if that is not bad enough, no one even asked about him.
Paul felt abandoned as can be seen in II Timothy 4:16-17 where it reads, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”
When Paul needed someone to be there the most, they left him. However, you will note that when all left, the Lord stayed! Therefore, be encouraged if you are in a place where it seems like everyone has abandoned you for there is one that has not left you. Selah.
Job felt hopeless in his circumstance as can be seen in Job 7:6 where it reads, “My days are spent without hope.”
The word spend is rendered, “to end.” The word hope is rendered, “a cord.” Thus, it could read like this, “my days end without a cord.” Have you ever ended a day and felt like there was nothing to grab a hold of and even wondered if you could make it through the night? Well, put your shouting shoes on, for this was just a period in Job’s life, for later you will see that he received double of all that he had lost after he prayed for his friends (Job 42:10).
The loneliness and hurt of Leah did not go unnoticed:
The Lord always knows our circumstances as can be seen in Psalms 115:12 where it reads, “The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.”
The word mindful is rendered, “to mark.” The principle being, the Father has marked you. He has singled you out and the good news is, he is going to bless you and you shall look back on these trying times and praise the Lord for what he brought you through! “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:18).”
God knew what Leah was going through and provided comfort:
Gen 29:31: When God saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb. She would now be able to receive seed and bring forth life. The principle being, if you are being hated, despised and rejected, you are a prime candidate to receive a revelation from the Lord. And, that what you receive will be what it will take to bring you into the place the Lord has for you.
Gen 29:32: God looked upon Leah’s affliction and gave her a son. The word affliction here is also rendered distress.
Distress is made of two parts. One, “di” which means two and stress which is rendered a special weight placed upon something important.
The something important is YOU! There were two things upon Leah. Once, she was hated. Two, she was barren. And, because she was important to the Lord, he ENLARGED HER. He gave her a son. Even so are you important to the Lord and He is very aware of what you are going through. I am reminded here of Psalms 4:1, which reads, “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.” What is the weight upon you?
Gen 29:33: God heard that Leah was hated. The principle being in one sense, she wasn’t being loved like others around her were being loved. Have you ever been in a place where you saw someone show love to someone around you, but come short of showing you that same love? The Lord knows your pain and is going to move on your behalf!
Note Leah’s Progressive Transformation in the names of her children:
The birth of Reuben, which means, “Behold a son.” Our foundation is the Son. We must behold Him and see Him as Lord in our life.
Names are significant in the bible in that they express the feelings and emotions that accompany a birth.
A lady was asked about the names of her children. Their names are Eany, Meany and Miney. What about Moe? There ain’t gonna be no Moe!
Note the situation that Leah is in. She is married to a man who never wanted her and thus refused to give her the love she so desperately needed.
The Lord moved for Leah and gave her a son and this no doubt sparked some hope in her that surely Jacob would love her now. Surely Jacob would now pay her some attention.
The sadness here is that Leah has no hope of being loved because of who she is, but only because she gave Jacob a son. Even so today, there are those in the church and world at large that have no hope of being loved for who they are, so they set out to give people things in hopes of being loved.
The birth of Simeon, which means hearing. Leah is getting a revelation here that the Lord hears.
The birth of Levi, which means joined or attached. Here Leah is getting a revelation that she is joined to the Lord and he will never leave nor forsake her.
Can you relate with Leah? She still has hope that Jacob is going to love her for what she is giving him. Hear me clearly; if the person can’t truly love you without you giving them something, the love shown you after giving something to them will most likely be superficial or simply shallow.
In the Eastern culture, the following blessing is spoken to the mother of more than one son. “What has God willed? How glorious. How fortunate! Now your husband will love you and your name will be great.” Can you better understand now why Leah’s hopes are becoming more realistic? However, she isn’t after Jacob to love her with the high level of love he had for Rachel. Simply being, the attachment she was after now was not based on affection, but on obligation. Even so, there are those that will give to you and then expect you to love them solely on the basis of what they give you.
The birth of Judah, which means, praise. This is the place of maturity. You first behold Jesus, you know that He hears you; you know He will never leave and forsake you and then you can praise Him!
Note that three sons did not change Jacob’s heart towards Leah, but the birth of the fourth son shows a change in Leah’s heart. Simply being, her focus is not now on gaining Jacob’s love but to praise the God who had seen, heard and blessed her with children. Even so, you would do wise to get your eyes off of your circumstances and just begin to praise the Lord for all the things He has already done in your life.
Up to this point, Leah had been thankful for her children but her focus was on the effect that it would have on her relationship with Jacob. Thus, her motive in having children wasn’t right and therefore wasn’t fair to the children. Simply being, the love they were going to need, Leah would not be able to give because she was not getting the love she needed.
The greatest lesson Leah learned out of having these four children was when she recognized that to be loved and blessed by God was far greater than to be loved by her husband (Jacob). Though she still desired the love of her husband, she would now be content with the abundant love of God. I am reminded of Hosea 2:16 which reads, “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi (my husband); and shalt call me no more Baali (Lord).”
Conclusion:
How many of you can relate with Leah and say that you have been through or perhaps even in similar circumstances in this hour?
Perhaps you were unloved as a child. Or, you may be in a marriage with little or no love. Perhaps, your single and hopes of marriage are fading. Perhaps, you continually feel alone and that no one cares. No matter what your problem may be, the solution is all the same. Run to the Lord!
I John 5:4
For whatsoever (whosoever) is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
II Cor 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
Romans 8:32
He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:37
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
Note that Leah’s situation does not change, SHE CHANGES! Simple being, out of pain and rejection, she develops a relationship with God.
Leah’s victory is a relationship with God that would have not happened if she had not been hated and rejected.
Principle: One of the Lord’s goals is to have an intimate relationship with you. Therefore, in the light of this teaching, we can see in principle that whenever we are mistreated or rejected, a closer relationship with God is nigh at hand.
Up to this time, you would have been distracted by your circumstances, now you have come to a place where you make the decision to focus on the Lord and to put Him first in your life.
What is it that you are struggling with in this hour?
I may not be able to give you hope that your circumstance will change, but I can sure give you hope that you can change and a deeper relationship with the Lord can result from your present circumstances!
I could take these four children that Leah had and give husbands a revelation on what their wife is seeking from them. 1) Reuben, which means behold a son. Your wife wants you to behold her or simply give her some attention. 2) Simeon, which means hearing. Your wife wants you to be attentive and listen when she is talking to you instead of tuning her out or walking away while she is talking. 3) Levi, which means companion. Your wife needs to know you are there when she needs you and that you will never forsake her in time of need. 4) Judah, which means praise. Your will needs you to praise her at times for the things she does. She needs you to tell her how good she looks.
I hope you have been both encouraged and blessed by this writing. This series is available to order on Cd or Dvd.
Email Pastor Troy for ordering instructions
hisecho@aol.com
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
John 4:15-18
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
The Jews would be under no kind of obligation to the Samaritans—would borrow nothing from them—would not drink out of the same cup or well with them—would not sit down to meals with them, nor eat out of the same vessel—would have no religious connection or any commercial dealings with them.
The Jews cursed the Samaritans, and believed them to be accursed. Their most merciful wish to the Samaritans was, that they might have no part in the resurrection; or, in other words, that they might be annihilated.
With this insight, I trust you can see why the woman was amazed that Jesus was communing with her. This woman truly was unloved and unwanted by the Jews. If that wasn’t bad enough, she had been through five husbands and was living with a man now. It is evident to us looking back that she didn’t find the love and acceptance she so desired in religion (man made) or marriage.
Can you relate? Are there groups, individuals, churches, etc that have shut you out and made you feel unloved and unwanted? Have you been through relationship after relationship only to be hurt time after time? Do you feel unloved and unwanted by your spouse? Do you feel unloved and unwanted by your parents? If so, I know you will be blessed and encouraged by this message.
Gen 29:30-35
And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Jacob worked 7 years for Rachel and ENDED up with Leah. This speaks in principle in one sense of those devote all their time and energy towards a specific goal and fall short of it in the end. This is one reason many people have decided not to ever step foot in another church. Simply being, after being told one thing in the beginning and then devoting all their time, talents, and finances towards the vision, they saw things come out different in the end.
Note that Jacob ended up with Leah. The word ended is rendered, “to come to an end.” The truth here is that a seven-year period in Jacob’s life came to an end. He started this period with Rachel and ended it with Leah. In his mind, he started out good and ended bad. Can you relate?
Jacob is upset with Leah and doesn’t mind if Leah and the whole world know it. The principle being, Jacob is upset with this period of his life. Can you hear him saying, “It isn’t right?” The person in this type of situation will let you know that they are ticked-off and could care less if everyone else knows it. Are you in a period now in your life where it seems like things just aren’t fair? The good news is, this period must end and give way to a new period.
Leah’s name in Hebrew means to be weary, to be offended, to be exhausted or wore out, to be tired of doing something. Can you see the principle? Jacob ended up in a place of EXHAUSTION! He had worked hard and still didn’t get what he wanted.
How many of you have labored much in the ministry or relationships and feel like you have come to a period in your life where it doesn’t seem like you will reach your destiny? The good news is; you must go through this period in order to enter into the next period of your life.
Leah’s Dilemma – She was loved less than Rachel
Everyone needs to feel loved. Jesus teaches us to love in Matthew 22:37-39 where it reads, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Principle: You can only love others to the degree that you love yourself.
If you don’t think much of yourself, you probably will not think much of those around you. And, if you aren’t pleased with yourself, you will be judgmental and those around you will never be able to please you, for you will always find something wrong in their life.
The main reason people can’t love themselves is the fact that they don’t really know who they are. Simply being, we are made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26). We are His image in the earth. With that insight, how can I love God and not love myself?
I Jn 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Note that it says, “Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. This lets us see that it is possible to be born again and not have love for people.
I could give you the analogy of a baby. Simply being, the baby can be born into the world, but it will take a relationship being established between the baby and the parents in order for the baby to be able to love. Now, if the baby is born and no love is shown to it, the baby will have a hard time expressing love to others when it grows up.
With this insight, you can better discern those that have an intimate relationship with the Lord verses those that are just born again and going through the motions.
I think it imperative to point out that though we are taught to love one another from the scriptures, there are many that fail to do so for one reason or another and as a result, there are many in the world today that do not feel loved. The following illustrations bear this truth out so beautiful.
Ida Fay Oblesby, writing in the P.E.O. Record (January 1983), tells the story of a little eight-year-old girl in a Pennsylvania orphanage who was shy, unattractive, and regarded as a problem. Two other asylums had her transferred, and now this director was seeking some pretext for rid of her. One day someone noticed this little girl was writing a letter. An ironclad rule of the institution was that any communication from a child had to be approved before it was mailed. The next day, the director and her assistant watched the child steal out of the dormitory and slip down to the main gate. Just inside the gate was an old tree with roots showing above the ground. They followed and watched as the child hid the letter in one of the crevices of the root. Carefully looking around, the little girl scurried back to the dormitory. The director took the note and tore it open. Then, without speaking, she passed the note to her assistant. It read, “To anybody who finds this: I love you.”
A woman once told the story of her childhood. She was a victim of polio and felt she was a burden to everyone including her own family. She felt unloved and unwanted. She said, “When my mother left me in Sunday School, I always asked to wear her locket. She thought I liked the locket. That wasn’t it at all. I knew I wasn’t worth coming back for, but I knew she would come back for the locket.”
Who will cry for the little boy, lost and all alone? Who will cry for the little boy, abandoned without his own? Who will cry for the little boy, he cried himself to sleep? Who will cry for the little boy, who never had for keeps? Who will cry for the little boy, who walked the burning sand? Who will cry for the little boy, the boy inside the man? Who will cry for the little boy, who knows well hurt and pain? Who will cry for the little boy, who died and died again? Who will cry for the little boy, a good boy he tried to be? Who will cry for the little boy, who cries inside of me? Who will cry for the little boy, I will cry, I always do.
I realize that even with all the above mentioned, there will still be some that would dare to say, “you don’t know what I am going through.” They will say, “I even wonder at times if God even loves me.” So, for the sake of touching the hearts of these, I want to take you in the scriptures and give you some people that can identify with your pain.
David felt alone at times as can be seen in Psalms 142:4 where it reads, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”
I think it imperative to point out the desperation that David was in. One, there was no man that would know him. The word know here is rendered in the Hebrew to acknowledge. Simply being, no one paid attention to what I was going through. Two, refuge failed him. A refuge is a place where one can go when in trouble. Thus in principle, the ones that he once could run to are now not there for him. Three, no man cared for him. The word cared here means to seek or to ask. The principle being, no one came to check on David and if that is not bad enough, no one even asked about him.
Paul felt abandoned as can be seen in II Timothy 4:16-17 where it reads, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”
When Paul needed someone to be there the most, they left him. However, you will note that when all left, the Lord stayed! Therefore, be encouraged if you are in a place where it seems like everyone has abandoned you for there is one that has not left you. Selah.
Job felt hopeless in his circumstance as can be seen in Job 7:6 where it reads, “My days are spent without hope.”
The word spend is rendered, “to end.” The word hope is rendered, “a cord.” Thus, it could read like this, “my days end without a cord.” Have you ever ended a day and felt like there was nothing to grab a hold of and even wondered if you could make it through the night? Well, put your shouting shoes on, for this was just a period in Job’s life, for later you will see that he received double of all that he had lost after he prayed for his friends (Job 42:10).
The loneliness and hurt of Leah did not go unnoticed:
The Lord always knows our circumstances as can be seen in Psalms 115:12 where it reads, “The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.”
The word mindful is rendered, “to mark.” The principle being, the Father has marked you. He has singled you out and the good news is, he is going to bless you and you shall look back on these trying times and praise the Lord for what he brought you through! “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:18).”
God knew what Leah was going through and provided comfort:
Gen 29:31: When God saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb. She would now be able to receive seed and bring forth life. The principle being, if you are being hated, despised and rejected, you are a prime candidate to receive a revelation from the Lord. And, that what you receive will be what it will take to bring you into the place the Lord has for you.
Gen 29:32: God looked upon Leah’s affliction and gave her a son. The word affliction here is also rendered distress.
Distress is made of two parts. One, “di” which means two and stress which is rendered a special weight placed upon something important.
The something important is YOU! There were two things upon Leah. Once, she was hated. Two, she was barren. And, because she was important to the Lord, he ENLARGED HER. He gave her a son. Even so are you important to the Lord and He is very aware of what you are going through. I am reminded here of Psalms 4:1, which reads, “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.” What is the weight upon you?
Gen 29:33: God heard that Leah was hated. The principle being in one sense, she wasn’t being loved like others around her were being loved. Have you ever been in a place where you saw someone show love to someone around you, but come short of showing you that same love? The Lord knows your pain and is going to move on your behalf!
Note Leah’s Progressive Transformation in the names of her children:
The birth of Reuben, which means, “Behold a son.” Our foundation is the Son. We must behold Him and see Him as Lord in our life.
Names are significant in the bible in that they express the feelings and emotions that accompany a birth.
A lady was asked about the names of her children. Their names are Eany, Meany and Miney. What about Moe? There ain’t gonna be no Moe!
Note the situation that Leah is in. She is married to a man who never wanted her and thus refused to give her the love she so desperately needed.
The Lord moved for Leah and gave her a son and this no doubt sparked some hope in her that surely Jacob would love her now. Surely Jacob would now pay her some attention.
The sadness here is that Leah has no hope of being loved because of who she is, but only because she gave Jacob a son. Even so today, there are those in the church and world at large that have no hope of being loved for who they are, so they set out to give people things in hopes of being loved.
The birth of Simeon, which means hearing. Leah is getting a revelation here that the Lord hears.
The birth of Levi, which means joined or attached. Here Leah is getting a revelation that she is joined to the Lord and he will never leave nor forsake her.
Can you relate with Leah? She still has hope that Jacob is going to love her for what she is giving him. Hear me clearly; if the person can’t truly love you without you giving them something, the love shown you after giving something to them will most likely be superficial or simply shallow.
In the Eastern culture, the following blessing is spoken to the mother of more than one son. “What has God willed? How glorious. How fortunate! Now your husband will love you and your name will be great.” Can you better understand now why Leah’s hopes are becoming more realistic? However, she isn’t after Jacob to love her with the high level of love he had for Rachel. Simply being, the attachment she was after now was not based on affection, but on obligation. Even so, there are those that will give to you and then expect you to love them solely on the basis of what they give you.
The birth of Judah, which means, praise. This is the place of maturity. You first behold Jesus, you know that He hears you; you know He will never leave and forsake you and then you can praise Him!
Note that three sons did not change Jacob’s heart towards Leah, but the birth of the fourth son shows a change in Leah’s heart. Simply being, her focus is not now on gaining Jacob’s love but to praise the God who had seen, heard and blessed her with children. Even so, you would do wise to get your eyes off of your circumstances and just begin to praise the Lord for all the things He has already done in your life.
Up to this point, Leah had been thankful for her children but her focus was on the effect that it would have on her relationship with Jacob. Thus, her motive in having children wasn’t right and therefore wasn’t fair to the children. Simply being, the love they were going to need, Leah would not be able to give because she was not getting the love she needed.
The greatest lesson Leah learned out of having these four children was when she recognized that to be loved and blessed by God was far greater than to be loved by her husband (Jacob). Though she still desired the love of her husband, she would now be content with the abundant love of God. I am reminded of Hosea 2:16 which reads, “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi (my husband); and shalt call me no more Baali (Lord).”
Conclusion:
How many of you can relate with Leah and say that you have been through or perhaps even in similar circumstances in this hour?
Perhaps you were unloved as a child. Or, you may be in a marriage with little or no love. Perhaps, your single and hopes of marriage are fading. Perhaps, you continually feel alone and that no one cares. No matter what your problem may be, the solution is all the same. Run to the Lord!
I John 5:4
For whatsoever (whosoever) is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
II Cor 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
Romans 8:32
He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:37
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
Note that Leah’s situation does not change, SHE CHANGES! Simple being, out of pain and rejection, she develops a relationship with God.
Leah’s victory is a relationship with God that would have not happened if she had not been hated and rejected.
Principle: One of the Lord’s goals is to have an intimate relationship with you. Therefore, in the light of this teaching, we can see in principle that whenever we are mistreated or rejected, a closer relationship with God is nigh at hand.
Up to this time, you would have been distracted by your circumstances, now you have come to a place where you make the decision to focus on the Lord and to put Him first in your life.
What is it that you are struggling with in this hour?
I may not be able to give you hope that your circumstance will change, but I can sure give you hope that you can change and a deeper relationship with the Lord can result from your present circumstances!
I could take these four children that Leah had and give husbands a revelation on what their wife is seeking from them. 1) Reuben, which means behold a son. Your wife wants you to behold her or simply give her some attention. 2) Simeon, which means hearing. Your wife wants you to be attentive and listen when she is talking to you instead of tuning her out or walking away while she is talking. 3) Levi, which means companion. Your wife needs to know you are there when she needs you and that you will never forsake her in time of need. 4) Judah, which means praise. Your will needs you to praise her at times for the things she does. She needs you to tell her how good she looks.
I hope you have been both encouraged and blessed by this writing. This series is available to order on Cd or Dvd.
Email Pastor Troy for ordering instructions
hisecho@aol.com
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