Genesis 29:31-33 - Tragedy of marital compromise
Scripture:
Genesis 29:31-33
31 Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her
womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for
she said, "Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely
now my husband will love me."
33 Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, "
Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has
therefore given me this son also." So she named him Simeon.
NASU
Thoughts:
Laban has tricked Jacob into marrying his eldest daughter
Leah, before he can marry Rachel.
Genesis 29:25
25 So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was
Leah! And he said to Laban, " What is this you have done
to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served with you? Why
then have you deceived me?"
NASU
We don't know how complicit Leah was in this marriage fraud,
certainly she at least went along with her father's scheme.
It reminds me of the desperation that more than one single
person (and sometimes their parents) has had about
marriage. People mistakenly think that if they "just get
married" that magically all the incompatibilities between
them will cease. That a wave of love will wash over all
their problems, transporting them to marital bliss. What
they find however, is what Leah did: married to someone who
really does not love them (perhaps), and certainly in
affliction.
Prayer:
Lord, I pray for unmarried Christians who desire marriage.
Give them faith in You to wait for the one You have for
them. By Your grace, I waited, and I would not want any
other life for me.
Amen