Unwanted but Needed

Unwanted but Needed

Genesis 35: Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: ²³ the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; ²⁴ the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; ²⁵ the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; ²⁶ and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.

 

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Jacob had twelve sons from two wives and two maidservants of the wives. Leah had six sons, Rachel had two. Bilhah had two and Zilpha had two.

 

My Observations

• Leah was unwanted by Jacob, but had the most children by her.
• Leah’s maidservant’s kids along with her kids equals eight out of twelve kids.
• Leah’s sons were the oldest and so far, caused the most problems.

 

For someone unwanted by the person who GOD spoke to, it sure seems like she was valuable to GOD. Leah was slipped into Jacob by a deceiver, Laban. Jacob was trying to circumvent tradition by bargaining to get his way. Leah felt unloved and unwanted. But she prayed to GOD and HE heard her.

 

Leah became the mother of Judah. Later we will see the JESUS is the Lion of Judah. In other words, JESUS is related to Judah who was related to Leah the unwanted. GOD watched over Leah and kept HIS promise.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses to write the list of sons in this order versus chronological?
• Do you sometimes feel unwanted?
• Do you know you are valuable, wanted and needed by GOD the Almighty?