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The Girl Nobody Wanted



          
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The book of Genesis covers the story of Jacob for most of its second half. Jacob’s life was empty when he left his home to his uncle's house. He decided to get settled by working for his uncle Laban. He had to start everything from scratch, as he had no family inheritance and nobody to lean on. And then he saw Rachel, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, he thought that she would be a great bride for him. He  thought that his lonely life would get some meaning and his future will be filled with happiness. 


In Genesis, 29:16-18, we read about Jacob getting married. "Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah had weak (dim) eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Jacob was in love with Rachel and said to Laban, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” Chances of Leah getting married was slimm, perhaps due to her weak eyes.  So Laban set up a trick on Jacob. On the day of the wedding, Jacob found out that it was Leah that was given as bride.  It was too late for Jacob to change as Laban told him that the custom of the land is to marry the older one first. So he bargained for another seven years of labor to get married to Rachel. Jacob agreed and served seven more years and ended with two wives, more than he ever asked for.  


Laban was a shrude and cunning business man. He was playing the 'ugly child economics.'  For example, if you are taken hostage with your two children, one ugly and disabled, and the other older and beautiful. The hijackers want to take one child away, and give freedom to you and the other.  If you don’t choose, everyone dies.  How do you decide? The child is symbolic in this scenario.  It can be an idea, business, project or an outcome.  The world economics will teach to weigh in on the return on investment to make a decision. You can have ugly children in all walks of life. The political issues like abortion, healthcare and many others are ugly children. Nobody wants to take it, but somebody will have to. US president Obama had an ugly child in the 'Healthcare Reform' and George Bush had an ugly child in the 'Iraq war'.


Eventhough, Leah was considered the less preferred bride, God chose her to be the first wife of Jacob. She gave birthto six sons and a daughter. Leah had Reuben, then Simeon, then Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, as well as a daughter, Dinah. Each time she had another son, she prayed that  Jacob would finally love her as he loved Rachel. He never did. Rachel did not have children for a long time. She prayed and finally gave birth to two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. She died during the time of birth of Benjamin.  


God loves both Leah and Rachel and needs both for His purpose. Leah was buried with alongside the forefathers, Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 49:31)while Rachel was buried in a distant land. (Gen 35:19).  Jesus Christ was born in the tribe of Judah, the son of Leah. God wants us to be faithful, more than famous and beautiful.  Beauty is in the results. It comes out at the end.


The scripture considers both of them important. Ruth 4:11 "Leah and Rachel both built the house of Israel." (Ruth 4:11). We all have a part to play, no matter how insignificant you may feel like. We are all valuable to God. "God chose the weak and the foolish to shame the strong and the wise."  (1 Corinthians 1:27) 




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