Eyes on the Lord

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy Of: Priscilla Du Preez

When the Lord saw that Leah was neglected, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive. Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction. surely my husband will love me now.” She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The Lord heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon. She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him.” Therefore he was named Levi. And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

~Genesis 29:31-35

I've been journeying through the book of Genesis again in my Bible reading plan, and it has struck me anew just how much we can learn from Leah in the tragic saga between her, her husband, and her sister. 

Rachel and Leah's father, Laban, toyed with their lives and their happiness when he deceived a man named Jacob into marrying Leah when who he really loved and wanted to marry was her sister Rachel.

As if this weren't bad enough, Leah had to be in a loveless marriage while her much beloved sister was also married to the same man. It's seriously the stuff of soap operas. The tragic thing is, it's all true, and it all really did happen.

As Leah is battling the sadness of her loveless marriage to a man whom, seemingly, she herself did love, she becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son. In the patriarchal culture in which she was living, a woman's worth was found in whether or not she could give birth to sons. In this marriage triangle, Rachel, the beloved wife could not do so. But Leah, the one who was unloved, clearly could.

This simple fact filled Leah's heart with hope for what was likely the first time. Following the birth of her firstborn son, Leah says, "The Lord has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now."

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that this is what happened, because following the birth of her second son she says, "The Lord heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also."

The sad state of affairs continues after the birth of a third son when she reveals in her proclamation that she is yet still keeping her eyes fixed on Jacob, desperate to please him and receive his love: "At last, my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne three sons for him."

Each of these three times, Leah bases her worth and identity in her ability to produce sons and in whether or not her husband loves her. As wives we can understand this desire to be loved, right? It's natural. The problem, though, comes when we are keeping our eyes fixed on our husbands or on anyone else or anything else to fulfill us and make us feel ok. 

It isn't until the birth of her fourth son that Leah comes to understand this herself. Her words following this son's birth are truly beautiful and reveal an important change of heart and focus that has taken place in Leah: "This time I will praise the Lord."

There is no talk of Jacob following the birth of this fourth son. Leah's eyes are no longer fixed on her husband and whether or not he loves her. No, her eyes now are where they should have been all along - on the Lord and on praising Him. 

Why? Because I think Leah has finally discovered something which all of us would do well to learn - our contentment, our joy, our hope, our primary focus, and our ultimate attention cannot be based on, or found in, anyone or anything other than the Lord.

Leah's ability to praise the Lord following the birth of her fourth son did not stem from Jacob finally loving, accepting, cherishing, and fulfilling her. Her circumstances didn't change. But her focus did, which changed everything!

I don't know what you may be going through as you read these words, sister, but may I gently encourage you to keep your eyes on the Lord rather than on man? May I encourage you to keep your eyes on the Lord rather than on your circumstances?

I know that can be a hard thing to do, but I promise you that if you do it, though your circumstances may remain the same, your joy, your peace, and your contentment will grow. And that is a life-changing blessing! So, keep your eyes on the Lord, friend. You won't regret it!