First Wife

And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. (Genesis 29:16 KJV)

Jacob was sent by his father Isaac to Laban, Jacob’s uncle. Specifically, he was instructed to marry one of Laban’s daughters.

Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. (Genesis 29:17 KJV)

It was Rachel that caught Jacob’s attention, and his promise to work seven years for her father in order to marry her. Can you imagine that wedding night? How could Rachel keep quiet as her sister was married in her place? Were they so similar in height and weight that Jacob didn’t notice when led into a dark tent at night? Comes the morning:

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? (Genesis 29:25 KJV)

Within a week, Jacob wed his beloved Rachel, and worked another seven years for Laban – prospering during that entire time. But the marriages brought hatred, for Jacob loved Rachel more.

And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. (Genesis 29:31 KJV)

This was the subject of our Thursday Ladies Bible Study. The core of the lesson was how to respond when hated. Leah did nothing to incur her sister’s hatred. Multiple marriages were the norm in their culture. She was compelled to obey her father.  Perhaps she loved Jacob, too. She had done no wrong, yet she was hated.

Christ told us that His followers would be hated, too, and he had a lesson for them:

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. (Luke 6:22 KJV)

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44 KJV)

The part of the lesson that meant the most to me, though, came through the birth of her first four sons listed in Genesis 29:32-35.

With the first son, she thought her husband would come to love her. With the second, she realized God knew she was hated. With the third, she believed her husband would feel joined with her. With the fourth – Judah – she praised the Lord. Through Judah would come King David. Through the Davidic line would come Jesus, the messiah.

How long does it take us to praise the Lord?

Genesis 35:19 tells us that Rachel was buried in Bethlehem. Leah continued with her husband, who showed care for her as he charged his children as to his burial arrangements:

And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave … There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. (Genesis 49:29-31 KJV)

Rachel, buried alone. Leah, destined to be Jacob’s first and last wife.