The Hand of God

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE HAND OF GOD

 

Gen 29:31-35

31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now." 33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.   34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." So he was named Levi.   35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

NIV

Why would Jacob not love Leah? After all, he was intimate with her regularly. She was his wife, although we are told that Rachel was the more beautiful of the two, and Jacob loved her. He met her first and wanted only her as his wife, yet now he has both as wives, and the LORD is blessing him with sons through Leah. His first four sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Interestingly, two of Israel's great tribes came through Leah. First, the line of Levitical priests came through Leah. Levi's descendants included Moses and his brother Aaron, the first of the priestly line. Levi's line also included Eli, the priest in Shiloh, and Ezra, who wrote the first post-captivity book. This was not by chance that Leah was Jacob's wife; it was by the hand of God. One of the greatest reasons is that she bore Judah. We know who the Lion of Judah is: our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Of course, through Judah came David, whose sons were Solomon and Nathan. Joseph came through Solomon's line, but Mary came through Nathan's; both descended from Judah. This story shows that God's hand is always at work to bring about his will for his creation. He still has more to do in Jacob's life, including through his son Joseph, who will bring about so much in the lives of the Israelites, which again demonstrates God's hand at work. We should know by now that God's hand is at work in our lives. He has, and is continuing to, bring about his will for our lives. He is working in us, and through us, to accomplish his plan for his people. If we think we are not important in God's grand plan and purpose, we are sadly mistaken. He calls each of us to be part of the body of Christ, the church. He poured out the Holy Spirit on all of us and bestows his gifts on each of us according to his pleasure. None of us are left out; we all have received something from the hand of God. We are all part of his plan and purpose for those who are called by his name. Let us live with that knowledge. Let us live out the fullness of his hand at work within us.