Leah verus Rachael

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The Biblical story of Jacob always amazes me.  It gives me hope, while also making me say, "really, really Lord?"  I am sure if I was God, I wouldn't have given Jacob all the chances he was given...and in that, I then see the hope I have.  If God was patient with Jacob and can bring something good out of a deceiver's life, then He can make something out of my empty rags also.

Years ago I heard a sermon on Jacob's wives.  I say sermon because it wasn't one of those that he used cross references, strong-concordance, Greek and Hebrew nor history knowledge to explain what he had received out of the scripture.  He just took the story of Jacob's wives and applied it to his own.

He brought a new slant into this story that has stayed with me for decades and this week I feel it is where I stand.  I stand looking at the Rachel in my life and the Leah.

Leah was the wife that produced the offspring that would fulfill the promise that God would make a nation from Jacob.  She wasn't the wife that Jacob cherished, in fact, she was the wife that he had be deceived into marrying.  She, however, was the wife that God would bring forth many offspring.   She was fruitful.

Then there was Rachael...Jacob's true love.  The wife of his passion.  The one he gave years of labor to his father-in-law to have her hand in marriage.  Unlike her sister Leah, Rachael didn't have the offspring to produce a nation.  Jacob's love for Rachael didn't go away and later the Lord blessed her with two sons.  Her sons are special to me since I named my late- in-life son after them both.  Rachael produced fruit later in her life, yet maintained the love of her husband from the first day.

There are choices before me for income for our family.  One choice is my passion.  It energizes me.  It excites me.  It allows me to be creative and use my gifts, however, it isn't bringing in income.  This is my Rachael...my decorating business.

The second choice has the potential to bring in a good income for my family.  It will be work.  It will stretch my energy and my comfort zone. It isn't glamorous and will not bring forth my creative side. It is my Leah.

There are seasons that the Lord produces fruit in our life through things that aren't exactly our choice.  This week I will lay down my Rachel in exchange for a Leah.  My prayer is that while I am obedient, that one day the Lord will allow me to again enjoy my Rachel.  I also want to rejoice in the fruit of Leah.  I am sure there are things God wants to teach me that can only come through the Leah season of my life.  These things maybe the things that allow me to totally enjoy my passions and deep seed dreams in the future.  Who knows maybe my Leah will become my Rachael as God changes my heart.

Have you had a Leah and Rachel in your life?  As you look back aren't you glad you allowed the Leah to produce the fruit God wanted in your life?  Have you also had your passion returned through a Rachel?