Today’s story is very packed, and no choice, I have to choose one theme closest to my heart to focus on.
Jacob continued his journey and arrived at Laban’s place. Jacob met Rachel and helped her rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well (ok, this time no more testing the ladies to do the hard work like Rebekah did, maybe Rebekah taught Jacob, LOL)
Implicitly told, Jacob loved Rebekah at the first sight, he kissed her and wept (I still dk why he needed to weep….way to attract girl?)
So Laban welcomed him, everything looked so smooooooth. Jacob asked for Rachel in exchange of 7 years work. Laban deceived him and gave him Leah instead on the ‘first night’. Jacob probably was drunk, and no electricity in the past, it was dark. He was shocked to find that he made love with Leah the next morning. So Jacob agreed to work another 7 years to get Rachel. So deep Jacob’s love to Rachel, the 7 years was like few days for him.
Jacob loved Rachel much more than Leah. Rachel was barren but Leah gave children. The first 3 children Leah named with hope that Jacob would love her.
Do you know the feeling of being rejected? By someone supposed to love you.
The closing of the chapter is remarkable. Leah stopped complaining instead she praised the Lord, thus she named the fourth son: Judah, or Yehuda (Praise).
Friends, we all wish we can control things and get what we think we deserve, just like anyone else…. Yet life is random and unpredictable. Leah made a decision: This time I will praise the Lord… It’s hard to praise the Lord in bitterness and disappointment.
It is hard.
But Leah took that step. And may we be able to take that step too.
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I pay homage of today’s writing to Oom Pdt. Chris Manusama, who shared this story when I was a teenager, more than 30 years ago, and thus he named his firstbon son, Yehuda – Yehuda Manusama.
Oom Chris, at that time was at a crossroad to go to Ambon, and so he did, and God has blessed his ministry there since.
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