You're Not Alone

The Bible says that Leah was unloved.     Jacob made a deal with Laban that he would work seven years to be able to marry Rachael but Leah remained unloved.    It was their custom that the eldest daughter would marry first.  It was a disgrace for a younger daughter to be married before the elder daughter.  Now that Rachael's wedding had a date, this gave Leah that much time to get married, or to face disgrace.

Just imagine the years passing, and no man finding anything special about her.  Just think about that sixth year and the pressure Leah must have felt.  Seven years later and she is still not even dating.  It must have been a horrible experience.  And the worst thing that could happen, did happen.  On the wedding night of her younger sister, her father decided to trick Jacob into marrying her.  Just imagine that your father had to trick your husband into marrying you.  That no one came to date you, and even the man you married was tricked into the marriage.  And God said of Leah that she was unloved.

I'm talking to someone today and you feel just like this.  Unloved and unwanted.  Why did Rachael get all the looks and Leah didn't?  Why did Jacob love Rachael but didn't love Leah?  Have you ever looked at your circumstances and said, "Why me?"    Just imagine how Leah felt the morning after her marriage when Jacob was mad and upset that he had been given the wrong daughter.   Imagine how terrible Leah felt knowing that her Father felt like deceiving someone was the only way to get her into a marriage of her own.   Wow.  What terrible circumstances.  Imagine how Rachael felt finding someone who cherished her only to have her sister take her place on her wedding day, this is a bad cituation all around for everyone.   And it goes even worse than unloved, the King James Version says that Leah was hated.  That would be awful to be forced into a marriage where you are not wanted, and you are treated with hate and contempt.   But, God made provision for Leah.

Genesis 29;31  Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

Whatever you are facing today, whatever your handicap, whatever your issue, whatever your pain, God sees you, He knows you, He is there, He is a friend to the friendless.  He will bless those who are despised.  He will help those that are hated and misused and abused.   He hears your cries.  He knows your heart.  

He didn't make Leah any prettier.  He didn't change Jacob's heart to love her also.  He didn't get her out of this circumstance, but God did find a way to favor her in the midst of her situation.   No matter what you are facing, God will find a way to bless you and favor you.  He blessed Leah for one simple reason, it was because she was unloved.   God will bless you in the middle of your pain and conflict.  Maybe people refuse to see the value of your life, but God sees.  Run to him, he is your tower of refuge.