From Genesis 29 and 30:1-24

Daniel's Sunday sermon inspired me to set the record straight!

Sisters. I never had one, but have often wished I did. Many times when I've expressed that wish to someone, they emphatically say something to the effect of, "Be glad you didn't have a sister!" While I still think it would have been neat to have had a sister, now that I have daughters of my own I have an idea of the unique complexities that present themselves between sisters.

Two well-known sisters in Bible history are Leah and Rachel. I actually had to change the title of this post, because I originally listed them, "Rachel and Leah". Isn't that the order in which they are always mentioned? Why is that? Leah was the firstborn. She also became Jacob's wife first. Upon the most casual Bible study, one realizes that she was by far the more virtuous of the two sisters. But the fact is that Rachel was the favored one, in spite of the fact that all the good we see in her is her beauty.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain...

It is not recorded that Jacob ever consulted the Lord in choosing a wife. Evidently, Rachel's charm and beauty were blinding to Jacob, and she maintained the facade for seven years while Jacob worked in order to gain her for his wife. Either he didn't really know her character, or he didn't care that he was marrying a spoiled brat, albeit a beautiful one.

(I know, I know, Jacob deserved her. His character wasn't exactly flawless, but that's another post.)

But take a look at Leah. "Tender-eyed," yes, but also quiet, long-suffering, and acknowledging the hand of the Lord in her life. Jehovah opened her womb and blessed her with sons. She named her children with her eye on the Lord and/or her husband. (Rachel named hers with a green eye on her sister.)

I believe Leah was God's choice wife for Jacob, and he should have been content with her, even if he was fooled by Laban into marrying her first instead of Rachel. We know that from the beginning, God created one woman for one man, and that is His perfect design.

God in His sovereignty and goodness gave Jacob the better woman. Jacob bought himself a lot of trouble when he married the second time. (That's a lesson in being content with what God gives us!) It is true that Rachel and the handmaids brought forth some of the twelve sons of Israel, but there is no doubt in my mind that God could have given all twelve tribes of Israel through Leah alone.

Setting the record straight: Though Rachel was favored by those around her, Leah was favored by Jehovah!

...But a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Almost everyone I know personally would say that they are pro-life. What most people mean when they say that is that they are anti-abortion, meaning they think it is wrong to destroy a life that has been conceived. I have known many people who believe that, and yet they are not quite pro-life.

Of whom do I speak? Of those women who say it is their right to close their own womb.

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."

Our Creator fashioned a beautiful plan called the family. One man and one woman unite in a unique, holy, spiritual and physical union that God blesses and said from the beginning that it is good. The natural blessing of that union is children, which are to be received with thanksgiving and love, as gifts from God. Why then do we turn away His blessings, taking the reins in our own hands? By doing so, we not only insult the Creator, but we deny ourselves the blessings that He would bestow upon us.

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

Who is it that is the Giver of Life? It is the Lord. How often does He want to give new life to the family He wants to bless? If we will take our controls off the womb, we will find out what His will is. But it has even been declared "irresponsible" to have more than -x- number of children. Does that attitude come from God?

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Why is it that we can trust Him for our salvation, but we can't trust Him to form our families? Do we know what is best, better than our Creator does? Of course not. Then why do we wrest from His creative hands the right to create a life? We have become arrogant and self-serving. We block the womb, and then dare God to work a miracle if He wants us to have another child. What wickedness!

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:"

Satan has attacked the very cradle of life: the woman's body. He has whispered a lie in her ear that it's her body, and she believed the lie. This one lie has led to both abortion and to birth control. Why is Satan concerned with the fruit of the womb?

"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth."

Children, raised up in a loving, godly home, are the offensive weapons against Satan! Open your eyes, Christians!

"Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."