Not loved = Hated

Genesis 29:31-35

 

The New International Version of the Bible uses the words “not loved” and the English Standard Version uses the word “hated” as to how Jacob thought of Leah.  At first thought, it seemed the two words were worlds apart; but are they?  Being somewhat ignorant of words and the English language, it drives me to the dictionary for the word “unloved” and this is the definition, unloved used as an adjective; uncared-for, friendless, unvalued, rejected, unwelcome, shunned, spurned, neglected, abandoned. After looking at those adjectives describing unloved, it’s not hard to say Jacob hated Leah, she was his wife but she was shunned, friendless and unvalued.

King Solomon has this to say about such a woman; “Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up: a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food, and unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress.” (Proverbs 30:21-23)  Most little girls grow-up with the desire to marry the perfect man who will love and care for them and make them happy; it is a fairytale because there is not a perfect man, but if Leah had those dreams she was soon to have her heart broken, after the first week.  Her husband did not just love another woman, he loved her little sister, and she felt hated.

This is where God steps into the picture, “When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.” (Genesis 29:31)  If we only have eyes to see what God is telling us in this verse, God is aware of your circumstance and He cares for you.  Now back to the story, in Leah’s time the most valued thing a woman could give a man was a son, without a son his name would die.  The rest of the verses listed above deal with the four sons Leah had with Jacob. 

It is of interest to see the names given to the boys; the first one was Reuben, and his name meant “Behold a son” and Leah had this to say; “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”  Leah has been talking with the Lord and she knows it is God who gives life.  Her second son is called Simeon and it means “Hearing” and this is what Leah had to say about him, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.”   On the third son she called him Levi and it meant “Attachment” and this is what Leah had to say; “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”  I’m sure that Jacob was in somewhat of a hurry to start his family and Leah was filling the role of having sons; so to some degree, her prayers are being answered, though his love is still for Rachel.  Leah’s fourth son was named Judah and it means “Praise” and this is what she said; “This time I will praise the Lord.” And she ceased bearing. 

Often I try to put a human face on God, His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts.  He is aware of your circumstances, so be like Leah and call on His name, He loves you and you are in his plans.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice