Genesis 29:25

Genesis 29:25 says, And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?  The next morning, Jacob asked Laban why he had beguiled him and given him Leah instead of Rachel.  Like Jacob, people are sometimes more upset when they are cheated than they are when they cheat others as Jacob had done with Esau.  Verse twenty-six states, And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Laban cited tradition as the reason.  Again, Jacob should have understood this,, since tradition said that the first born son would receive a father's blessing.  If we cheat others, we should not be surprised if others cheat us.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.  Jacob was basically told to accept Leah as his wife and that he would then be given Rachel for a wife as well, for which he would have to serve another seven years.  Having more than one wife at a time was never God's plan.  We have to wonder how Leah felt about this, since she knew that she was not the one that Jacob wanted.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.  After a week, Laban gave Jacob Rachel as his wife also.  As with Leah, we have to wonder how Rachel felt about this situation.  Neither were really given a choice, unless they defied their father.  Verse twenty-nine states, And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.  Laban gave Rachel one of his maids to be her handmade, as he had done in giving Leah a handmaid.  At least Laban seemed to not make a difference between his daughters.  Verse thirty declares, And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.  Jacob took Rachel as his wife also, but he loved her more than he did Leah.  Again, though she had done nothing wrong, Leah was in a bad situation.  Sometimes we may find ourselves in some bad situation through no fault of our own.  Jacob would work another seven years for having Rachel as his wife.  Jacob, Leah, and Rachel were all affected by Laban's plot.  Verse thirty-one declares, And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. God had mercy on Leah because of her situation.  We must pray that if we find ourselves in a bad situation that God will have mercy on us.  Verse thirty-two adds, And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.  Leah thought that when she had a son that Jacob would finally love her.  We can never force someone to love us, even if we give them what they may want.  Verse thirty-three adds, And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.  Verse thirty-four continues, And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons:  therefore was his name called Levi.  Then verse thirty-five concludes, And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.  Leah had four sons.  She was still hoping that Jacob would love her, but after the birth of her last son, she simply said that she would praise the LORD.  We should never forget to praise God, no matter what our situation may be in life.