Hope For The Unloved
Devotions

Hope For The Unloved

Betrayed by her own father because he thought she was not good enough to get a man for herself.

She couldn’t speak. It was against their culture.

Her case was sealed.

She was bound and hurled off to be married by the same man who bent his back and work his hands for own her sister. The betrayal was deeper than she expected.

She was going to hurt people.

She was going to hurt herself too.

 

But she didn’t want to offend her father…she wants him to be happy for her.

She broke her sister’s heart.

They lost their friendship.

In a bid to satisfy her father’s agenda, she gave in to his plot.

Covered up in shame, unloved and presented to her husband.

Allow me re-introduce you to Leah, the unloved woman.

Bible Reading: Genesis 29: 16-31

What could she have done? Protest. Yell. Run away. Tell her sister. She was not taught to be rebellous.

Was the idea sold to her and she gullibly accepted?

There was not much she would have done. For a lady in that time….

She had her own personal struggles.

May be she never enjoyed the attention of men like her sister.

May be she silently hoped this escape was worth it.

She sat still and waited for him to uncover her veil…

What! To his utter shock and disappointment, the young man found that he had being sold a lie.

All his hard work slaving for a woman he could have only in his dreams were for nought.

That anger alone was enough to make him despise his new wife.

A double ordeal, for Leah!

Caught in between a crafty Father’s agenda and her sister’s true love.

The price for being unloved.

The cost of being tender eyed!

Not good enough. Second best to her sister.

Words she had constantly heard from her father’s house.

Words whispered in her community.

Everyone knew her as the daughter with the cross eye.

Like a disease label following her around.

Now into her future!

But God…

And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. Genesis 29:31

He was watching. He saw.

He knew her story well.

God knew the scorn, the blame, fingers pointed.

The fights, jealousy and competition with her sister.

The treatment from her father.

The fact nobody believed in her enough.

God saw her pain and misery.

 

He made her fruitful with house full of children.

He rewarded her beyond her expectation.

He made her bear the lineage of the tribe of Judah.

 

Now your turn sister, 

Have you been tagged, scorned, or even hated for your looks or anything?

Have you felt unloved by your husband or father?

Have you faced constant rejection by those you love?

 

Jesus knows!

Jesus loves you.

You are loved by the Creator of the Universe.

You are loved by the one who owns everything.

You are loved by the greatest

Nothing in this world comes close to that.

 

That love should sink right in your heart. It should overwhelm every doubts playing in your head.

When your thoughts are centred on God’s love for you, everything around you blossoms and responds to your acceptance of od’s love for you.

When the accuser comes to remind of how you look, what you did, what you didn’t oh please remind him that Jesus loves you in spite of all these allegations.

Remind the accuser that you are loved by the God who made Him and that’s enough.

 

Relevant Links:

Women of the Bible: Leah by Jo 

The Chosen and Worthy Series by Lori Schumaker

Prayer:

Thank you Jesus for the Love you have for me. Thank you for the depth of the love you have for me. You love exceeds measure. It is deeper than the deepest ocean, higher than the heavens, overwhelming, unexplicable, beyond imagination and unconditional. I am grateful for your love. May my eyes and heart continually see your love in Jesus Name. Amen

 

 

 

    • 7 years ago

    Lovely

  • Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing this post at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

  • I love Leah’s story, especially as it juxtaposes Rachel’s. Thank you for sharing on the #sundaythoughts link up!

  • Interesting perspective… thank you for sharing this.

    • You welcome, friend.
      How have you been?
      Blessings to you

  • Thank you sharing the story of Leah! I’m so glad God sees us not as the world sees us!
    #Grace&Truth

  • Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday

  • Thank you for the creative retelling of Leah’s story. My heart breaks for her all over again. I’m thankful the Lord loves us always. Blessings to you.

  • Your faith and passion within your writing is inspirational and admirable. Thanks for sharing #TwinklyTuesday

    • Thanks Louise
      And it’s good to meet you too.

  • I’ve always wondered how Leah felt about the whole thing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts at Literacy Musing Mondays.

  • How often I need to remind myself that God sees me, knows me & loves me!

    Thank you for the reminder!

    • Thank you Becky for dropping by here.
      Hugs

    • 7 years ago

    I didn’t know Leah was known as the “daughter with the cross eye.” Interesting! So we have more of a visual of what Jacob saw as he removed that veil. But like you’ve said so eloquently, Ifeoma, God saw her pain and misery and blessed her because of it. I am encouraged by your words, my friend. I’m hoping that God will do the same in my moments of rejection and pain.

    • God will be there for you Betty!
      Hugs and Blessings to you friend

  • I love how we can reach back into the stories of biblical women and find the affirmation of God for our lives today!

  • Girl, you know how to tell a story. I had no idea I was reading a story that I already knew. You are a gifted writer. Yes, it is so true God knows.

    • Thank you for your kind words Maree.
      I am happy the post took you through another view into the life of Leah
      Hearty Blessings to you

  • Ifeoma,
    I love how you weaved Leah’s story through a story of identity! I hadn’t really looked at it in quite such a way before! Love, love, love! And AMEN, friend! No matter what the world says, we are chosen and worthy. Our God loves us and calls us wonderful! Thank you so much for linking to my series on #ChosenandWorthy 🙂 I appreciate you ♥

    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

    • Awesome!
      Thanks for stopping by Lori.
      God Bless

  • Oh how my heart breaks for Leah every time I read this story… I know, God blessed her and He was for her… His Love really does see all, cover all, redeem all. So beautiful –even during those not so pretty parts, He is at work! Such a great reminder!

    • Yes He is at work.
      Thanks Karrilee
      Blessings

  • Thank you for reminding us today that we are always chosen and worthy in God’s eyes. The story of Leah and Rachel is powerful and full of competition. We have choices as to how we live our lives and how we interact with others.

  • Powerful and true! You have shared an amazing story in an impactful way!

  • It is encouraging to see how God was working in Leah’s life even though she felt rejected and forgotten. Also to remember God loves us, whatever other people may think.

    • 7 years ago

    Great points and insight into Leah’s life!

  • Dear Ifeoma,
    Thank you for this beautiful re-telling of the story of Leah! You totally took me by surprise–I wasn’t expecting the story to be her. And that gave me a fresh point of view to think about what she may have felt during the whole story. What depth of Love God has for each of us! Blessings to you Dear Sister!

    • That’s awesome…
      Surprise is good sometimes 😉
      Thank you my friend

  • That is so amazing. Thank you

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