To All the Leahs

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ThroughTheStorm

ThroughTheStorm

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Dec 5, 2025
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Oh Leah,
You cannot win someone's love.
If they did not love you before and you manage somehow to "win" them over,
They are not in love with you,
But with the thing you acquire to earn their desire.


Oh, Leah,
If you do chase anything,
Chase after these:
Eyes lined in gentleness,
Lips glossed with peace,
Cheeks blushed with joy,
Nails painted in goodness,
Feet strapped in self-control,
A body clothed in unfailing love,
A necklace dangling with faithfulness,
Ears pierced with patience.
So that if they do fall in love with what you acquire,
At least Jesus may be the one they desire.
 
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The leah story has another layer.

Will you marry someone that you are not attracted to?

Clearly leah was arranged by God to marry Jacob, in Jacob s perspective. He was tricked, no choice.

In today's world, if it is clearly arranged by God, would you marry her, him, even not attractive?

Attractive can mean a lot of aspects, look, finance, maturity, funny, fit, health....

To people in marriage already, if you have a leah, don't ever leave her. She will bring blessings to you.
 
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Churchgoer said:
The leah story has another layer.

Will you marry someone that you are not attracted to?

Clearly leah was arranged by God to marry Jacob, in Jacob s perspective. He was tricked, no choice.

In today's world, if it is clearly arranged by God, would you marry her, him, even not attractive?

Attractive can mean a lot of aspects, look, finance, maturity, funny, fit, health....

To people in marriage already, if you have a leah, don't ever leave her. She will bring blessings to you.
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You make a very nice point. We should definitely be striving for God's will over our fleshly desires

If God told us to do something that wasn't appealing to us, would we put aside our feelings and obey Him?

This is on the same level as praying for those who mistreat us and loving our enemies.

I dont think Jacob was told directly by God that he was supposed to marry Leah, but if He did tell him, I wonder how differently the events would've unfolded

The part where it says Leah was hated really has had me thinking lately. I take that to mean she wasnt given the proper (equal) treatment a wife was to be given; she was given less...less affection, less time, less admiration, less interest.

I fear there may be a lot more Leahs than we realize. Not necessarily because their husbands are more interested in other women, but because they are not being prioritized and favored as a wife. And that could easily mean that the Rachel they are competing with is their husband's job, addiction, lust, whatever that is wrongfully taking more resources than what is to be given to the wife
 
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Ceph said:
If I were Jacob, I'd mind the attitudes more than the beauty.
I'd pefer to be with Leah.
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That's awesome you cherish the heart in that manner.

The attitude is definitely what enhances the beauty. It's like the salt for the appearance. A genuine heart for God gives so much depth and life to one's being. A person's character can either add or take away their beauty
 
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Churchgoer said:
The leah story has another layer.

Will you marry someone that you are not attracted to?

Clearly leah was arranged by God to marry Jacob, in Jacob s perspective. He was tricked, no choice.

In today's world, if it is clearly arranged by God, would you marry her, him, even not attractive?

Attractive can mean a lot of aspects, look, finance, maturity, funny, fit, health....

To people in marriage already, if you have a leah, don't ever leave her. She will bring blessings to you.
Click to expand...
We say leah, but this story applies to both man and woman.
The point is when God put together, let man not to separate.
 
Churchgoer said:
The leah story has another layer.

Will you marry someone that you are not attracted to?

Clearly leah was arranged by God to marry Jacob, in Jacob s perspective. He was tricked, no choice.

In today's world, if it is clearly arranged by God, would you marry her, him, even not attractive?

Attractive can mean a lot of aspects, look, finance, maturity, funny, fit, health....

To people in marriage already, if you have a leah, don't ever leave her. She will bring blessings to you.
Click to expand...
You make a lot of good points.

For me, I don't think God would ever arrange people together that didn't have some level of attraction. I think Leah was unloved, but that doesn't mean Jacob didn't find her attractive, nor do I think Jacob was unkind to Leah. Just, he loved Rachel.

I personally think that if Rachel wasn't around, I think Jacob could have loved Leah. I just don't think he gave her a fair shot.
 
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Delvianna said:
You make a lot of good points.

For me, I don't think God would ever arrange people together that didn't have some level of attraction. I think Leah was unloved, but that doesn't mean Jacob didn't find her attractive, nor do I think Jacob was unkind to Leah. Just, he loved Rachel.

I personally think that if Rachel wasn't around, I think Jacob could have loved Leah. I just don't think he gave her a fair shot.
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Agree agree.

That actually is to let us examine our own life, whatever God give to us, are we taking for granted?
Once that is taken away, we will see how precious that is.
 
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(Leah's is a sad story, but probably not as sad as some - she was loved less than Rachel, but never divorced or set aside. And she got to stay with her sister, which she wouldn't have had Jacob married only Rachel, as he desired. The below made me smile when I saw it the other day).
1787412387882.png
 
Charlesiii said:
(Leah's is a sad story, but probably not as sad as some - she was loved less than Rachel, but never divorced or set aside. And she got to stay with her sister, which she wouldn't have had Jacob married only Rachel, as he desired. The below made me smile when I saw it the other day).
View attachment 294587
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😭

His face in the last panel is what made it funny, but man, that stung lol

I bet there could be a good cross analysis between the stories of Leah and Rachel vs Hannah and Peninnah. Leah was unfavored by her husband yet favored by God and birthed more parts of the tribes of Israel plus had lineage resulting to the Messiah. Hannah was favored by her husband and God, was barren for a good portion, yet birthed a significant prophet, and recieved double portions from her husband. Rachel was favored by her husband and received a blessing from God by birthing Joseph who lead his family to a prosperous land. Peninnah was unfavored by her husband and I have no idea what her standing with God was
 
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ThroughTheStorm said:
😭

His face in the last panel is what made it funny, but man, that stung lol

I bet there could be a good cross analysis between the stories of Leah and Rachel vs Hannah and Peninnah. Leah was unfavored by her husband yet favored by God and birthed more parts of the tribes of Israel plus had lineage resulting to the Messiah. Hannah was favored by her husband and God, was barren for a good portion, yet birthed a significant prophet, and recieved double portions from her husband. Rachel was favored by her husband and received a blessing from God by birthing Joseph who lead his family to a prosperous land. Peninnah was unfavored by her husband and I have no idea what her standing with God was
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Could it be God is telling us, thou shall have no other gods before me?

God's love is bigger, and greater than human love.
 
I am a bit amazed by this thread. Jacob worked for Laban for seven years before his marriage to Leah. There is no way she is innocent of Laban's deception, she was a participant. She was part of the deception, not an innocent victim. Did she really just accidently sleep with Jacob on his wedding night to Rachel?

Jacob treated her very well in spite of her deception. She was not a victim.

I see this as a testament to Jacob's righteousness. He refused to violate Torah and maintained his own as well as Leah's righteousness. He also was righteous in his marriage to Rachel.

And understand there are multiple translations for the word "hated".
 
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Seeker47 said:
I am a bit amazed by this thread. Jacob worked for Laban for seven years before his marriage to Leah. There is no way she is innocent of Laban's deception, she was a participant. She was part of the deception, not an innocent victim. Did she really just accidently sleep with Jacob on his wedding night to Rachel?

Jacob treated her very well in spite of her deception. She was not a victim.

I see this as a testament to Jacob's righteousness. He refused to violate Torah and maintained his own as well as Leah's righteousness. He also was righteous in his marriage to Rachel.

And understand there are multiple translations for the word "hated".
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Very interesting take.
Hate, in there just mean like less. As if between chocolate 🍫 and broccoli, both good, but probably just say love chocolate, however dinner time still eat a lot of broccoli 🥦 😋
 
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Churchgoer said:
Very interesting take.
Hate, in there just mean like less. As if between chocolate 🍫 and broccoli, both good, but probably just say love chocolate, however dinner time still eat a lot of broccoli 🥦 😋
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I love your analogy!
 
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