Women in the Bible-What Can We Learn From Them?

 Leah

Who was Leah? She was the first wife of the patriarch Jacob. Her younger sister, Rachel, was his other wife. - GENESIS 29:20-29. 

What did she do? Leah became the mother of six of Jacob's sons.  (Ruth 4:11) Jacob had intended to marry Rachel, not Leah. However, the girls's father, Laban, arranged for Leah to take Rachel's place.  When Jacob realized that he had been tricked into marrying Leah, he confronted Laban.  Laban asserted that it was not the custom for the younger daughter to marry before the older one.  A week later, Jabob married Rachel. - GENESIS 29:26-28. 

Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.  (Genesis 29:30)  As a result, Leah jealously competed with her sister for Jacob's affections. God took note of Leah's feelings and blessed her with seven children-Six sons and one daughter. - GENESIS 29:31.

What can we learn from Leah? Leah relied on God in prayer and did not let her distressing family situation blind her to God's support. ((Genesis 29:29-35; 30:20)  The account of her life realistically portrays the failings of polygamy, an arrangment that God tolerated for a time.  His approved standard of marriage is for a husband or wife to have one spouse. - MATTHEW 19:4-6,

For a further discussion about Leah, see the article "Distressed sisters who built the house of Israel." 

For a  disxussion of why God tolerated polygamy among his people for a time, see the article "Does God Approve of Polygamy?

Next time: Women in the Bible-What Can We Learn From Them? - Martha

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