31 Adonai saw that Le’ah was unloved, so he made her fertile, while Rachel remained childless. 32 Le’ah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Re’uven [see, a son!], for she said, “It is because Adonai has seen how humiliated I have been, but now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son and said, “It is because Adonai has heard that I am unloved; therefore he has given me this son also.” So she named him Shim‘on [hearing]. 34 Once more she conceived and had a son; and she said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore she named him Levi [joining]. 35 She conceived yet again, had a son and said, “This time I will praise Adonai”; therefore she named him Y’hudah [praise]. Then she stopped having children. (Complete Jewish Bible)
***
Leah was so unattractive that Laban felt it was necessary to pawn her off, unknowingly, on Jacob as his first wife. As much as we can say it was a different time and a different culture where arranged marriages were normal, we have scriptural evidence that this hurt Leah deep in her heart (Gen. 29:31-32, 34).
Author Beth Moore in her devotional book, “Breaking Free Day by Day” says that sometimes we choose our own path or walk in the path that God has for others. At the end of the day, the Christian says to God, “But Father, we ended up okay even if I didn’t walk with you every single day, didn’t we?” God’s answer is, “Yes, child, we ended up okay. But you see, ‘okay’ was never all I had in mind for you.”
Although we can admire Leah for “sticking with it,” going through life unhappy and hurt is not God’s intention for us. Just making it to the end, dragging our broken heart behind us is not how God wants us to finish. He wants us to get through each day and our life victoriously, living in the glory of his holiness.
Hymn for Today: "Glorious Freedom" by Haldor Lillenas.
1. Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters,
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain;
But I received a glorious freedom,
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.
Refrain: Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
2. Freedom from all the carnal affections,
Freedom from envy, hatred and strife;
Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions,
Freedom from all that saddened my life. Refrain: Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
3. Freedom from pride and all sinful follies,
Freedom from love and glitter of gold;
Freedom from evil, temper, and anger,
Glorious freedom, rapture untold.Refrain: Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
4. Freedom from fear with all of its torments,
Freedom from care with all of its pain;
Freedom in Christ, my blessed Redeemer,
He who has rent my fetters in twain.
Refrain: Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
Thought for Today: But not only that, let us also boast in our troubles; because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope;(Romans 5:3-4)
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Korea.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
***
Leah was so unattractive that Laban felt it was necessary to pawn her off, unknowingly, on Jacob as his first wife. As much as we can say it was a different time and a different culture where arranged marriages were normal, we have scriptural evidence that this hurt Leah deep in her heart (Gen. 29:31-32, 34).
Author Beth Moore in her devotional book, “Breaking Free Day by Day” says that sometimes we choose our own path or walk in the path that God has for others. At the end of the day, the Christian says to God, “But Father, we ended up okay even if I didn’t walk with you every single day, didn’t we?” God’s answer is, “Yes, child, we ended up okay. But you see, ‘okay’ was never all I had in mind for you.”
Although we can admire Leah for “sticking with it,” going through life unhappy and hurt is not God’s intention for us. Just making it to the end, dragging our broken heart behind us is not how God wants us to finish. He wants us to get through each day and our life victoriously, living in the glory of his holiness.
Hymn for Today: "Glorious Freedom" by Haldor Lillenas.
1. Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters,
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain;
But I received a glorious freedom,
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.
Refrain: Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
2. Freedom from all the carnal affections,
Freedom from envy, hatred and strife;
Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions,
Freedom from all that saddened my life. Refrain: Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
3. Freedom from pride and all sinful follies,
Freedom from love and glitter of gold;
Freedom from evil, temper, and anger,
Glorious freedom, rapture untold.Refrain: Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
4. Freedom from fear with all of its torments,
Freedom from care with all of its pain;
Freedom in Christ, my blessed Redeemer,
He who has rent my fetters in twain.
Refrain: Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator,
Now and forever He shall be mine.
Thought for Today: But not only that, let us also boast in our troubles; because we know that trouble produces endurance, 4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope;(Romans 5:3-4)
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Korea.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
***
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