Monday, January 11, 2016

Genesis 29:31-30:24 "When God saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren... Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb..."

Two sisters married to one man. An imperfect man, who loved imperfectly. One sister was loved, the other hated. The other sister had many children, the one sister had none. Jealousy dominated their relationship between each other, each one envied the blessing of the other. Leah felt unloved because Rachel was loved and she wasnt. Rachel felt reproach because Leah had children and she didnt.

They acted from envy. Constantly they compared themselves with each other and despaired when they were found wanting. Leah thought that she could earn the love of her husband after she bore him several children. When Rachel saw that Leah was way ahead in bearing children and she couldnt, she settled for substitutes, she sent her handmaid to her husband to have children in her place. They kept score with each other, wouldn't allow the other grace.

Look at Leah, who as she bore sons to him, strived for and hoped that her husband would finally notice her and love her. Reuben, her first child, literally means, "see a son." Even after her sixth son was born, she still desparatly said, "Now my husband will honor me because I have born him six sons." She tried over and over again to earn his love.

Jealousy, envy, keeping score. For sure, these are not just sins of the past. I am as guilty as anyone. Trying to earn love is a desperate battle.

But as the Bride of Christ, we have been loved perfectly and with an everlasting love. I want to know the depths of that perfect love. Because the truth is, we don't have to compete for love like these sister did. We don't have to work to be loved because we already unconditionally are loved, we don't have to stoop to comparison, envy, and bitter jealousy because we are already accepted.

Why does it feel so uncomfortable to accept the love of Christ? Why are we so hesitant to put away the measuring stick?  I am convinced that when I accept God's acceptance of me, I will be ready to do the same to others.

I see God in his grace, looking at these sisters who cried out to him for children, and giving to them both. For Leah it meant acceptance and for Rachel it meant healing her reproach. And God desires to give again, to fill the void of love in us too. Not with material possesions, but with a greater knowledge of His character and sacrafice.

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