CRY OF THE BROKENHEARTED!
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, "I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter." And Laban said, "It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man:
abide with me."
GENESIS 29:16-20
Most of us know the story of how Jacob fell instantaneously in love with Laban's younger daughter Rachel. He promised and assured Laban that he would work for him for seven years if he could then marry Rachel.
Laban agreed, but when the seven years were over, he duped Jacob. When the wedding night came, Laban gave Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel. Jacob went to Laban the next morning and said, "Why have you done this to me? You have deceived me!"
Laban replied, "It must not be done in our country, to give the younger daughter before the firstborn. Serve me another seven years and for this work and I will give you Rachel!" Jacob did exactly that, and Laban gave Rachel to him.
Can you imagine the heartbreak Leah must have endured? Learning she was not truly loved and treasured by her now husband, Jacob? It must have been very hurtful to feel so unwanted and unloved.
Leah, although wounded by Jacob's distaste for her... decided to try to compel Jacob to love her thinking, "I will show Jacob that I am worthy of his love by having his children!"
Can you envision your own wedding day, and you realize your husband loves and cherishes another?? Not only does he love another, the person he genuinely loves is your younger sister. Leah, must have been crushed, and feeling very despised
and wounded.
It takes a strong heart to love, but it takes an even stronger heart to continue to love after it's been hurt!
All of us have wounds that drive us at times to prove our worth to someone or even to the world. Still, I have good news--Jesus has loved you with an everlasting love from the beginning of time!
The Lord appeared of old unto me, saying, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." JEREMIAH 31:3
God loved and cared for Leah and he mercifully acted on her behalf when He saw that Leah was hated... He opened her womb and Leah bore three sons. Still, Jacob loved Rachel more and there was nothing that was going to change that.
Many believers and non-believers alike, drive themselves by working as hard as they can or making themselves out to be something other than they are, just to be loved. But Jesus loves YOU just the way you are, He knew you before you were conceived and birthed.
There is nothing you can do... or ought to do... to know God's love for you. Perhaps you are feeling deep pain trying to be loved by someone, there is a saying that I've always remembered; "If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't return, they never were yours to have!"
I want you to know there is someone who loves you so very much and He is worth your loving Him. He will never leave you or forsake you.
I want you to know YOU are loved! We love Him, because He first He (Jesus) first loved us! 1 JOHN 4:19
BELOW: Cry of the Broken - Hillsong Worship
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