Key verse:
“And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, ‘This time I will praise the Lord.’”
Genesis 29:35
📖 Recommended reading
Genesis 29–30 → The full account of Leah: her marriage to Jacob, her struggle to be loved, the birth of her children, and her spiritual growth.
This passage reveals how a woman overlooked by men can be seen and blessed by God. Leah was not only the mother of tribes—she was the mother of praise. Her story teaches us that quiet faithfulness can bear eternal fruit.
🌿 Introduction
Leah lived in the shadow of unrequited love. Her story is that of a woman who was given in marriage without being chosen, and who struggled to be seen. But in the midst of rejection, God looked upon her with compassion. Leah teaches us that when no one chooses you, God chooses you for something greater.
👑 Her story
Leah was Laban’s oldest daughter. When Jacob asked to marry Rachel, Laban deceived him and gave him Leah instead. Jacob accepted her, but he loved Rachel. Leah lived in constant comparison, seeking her husband’s love through the children she bore him.
She had several sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah… and with each one, she expressed her longing to be loved. But when Judah was born, something changed—she no longer sought human approval and instead said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Judah would become the tribe from which the Messiah would be born.
Leah was buried beside Jacob, while Rachel was laid to rest elsewhere. Her quiet faithfulness was honored by God.
✨What it teaches us
Leah leaves us with profound lessons:
- God sees what others overlook: She was blessed in the midst of rejection.
- Comparison wears down the soul: Her struggle to be loved led her to pain.
- Praise transforms perspective: She praised God without seeking human approval.
- Faithfulness leaves a legacy: From her came Judah, and from Judah came Jesus.
💬 For reflection
Are you seeking approval in places where there is no fulfillment? Do you recognize that your quiet faithfulness can be seen by God? Are you ready to say, “This time I will praise the Lord,” like Leah?