Rachel VS Leah

In the 29th chapter of Genesis we read of the story of Jacob's meeting Rachel. It is almost love at first site when Jacob sees Rachael at the well watering her father’s sheep. Jacob sees this beautiful girl and decides for himself that she would make a fine wife. However, Laban, Rachel’s father has a little different plan.

Laban did not want Jacob working for him for nothing, so he approaches Jacob about what his wage should be for his work. Jacob shares his desire to marry Rachel, and that he will work for seven years in return for Rachel.

When those seven years passed, Jacob was expecting to marry Rachel; however, as we know, Laban gave Jacob his older daughter, Leah, to Jacob in marriage. Jacob was so in love with Rachel that he agreed to work another seven years to be able also to marry Rachel.

The description given of both of these girls is interesting to me. In verse 17 it states that Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form and beautiful. I wonder how many of us feel like we are Leahs when we are really Rachels in God eyes.

There is so much pressure from society on women to be beautiful, to have just the right hair color, be just the right size, wear a certain type of clothing. Sometimes the emphasis that media puts on beauty is repulsive to me. I have a seven-year-old daughter who already wants to make sure she looks just right. I sometimes want to stand up on a real high “soap box” and say “Hey, is anyone getting it here? Is it any wonder that so many young ladies are struggling with depression and feelings of unworthiness.”

I was at a local business recently and overheard the conversation of a junior high female. She was talking about her problem of depression. There are days she doesn't want to get out of bed to go to school , and she struggles with trying to get her friends' approval.

It is my opinion that there are far too many of us females that see ourselves as Leahs when really we are all Rachaels in God’s sight. Just think, ladies, in God’s sight we are all “lovely in form, and beautiful” just as the Bible describes Rachael in Genesis 29:17.

It just makes me so angry with the enemy (I think this is righteous anger) of our soul. He is trying every trick to prevent women from seeing their worth in Christ. On a worship CD I have by Travis Cottrell there is a song entitled “If I Could See What You See.” I love this song because it speaks so clearly about how Christ sees us. If we could just see ourselves as Christ sees us we would begin to understand who we really are. Ladies, we are who Christ says we are, not who we think we are.

Oh, I am so grateful for His redemptive work in our lives, however, it doesn’t stop with redemption. God has a life for us that far exceeds what we could expect. "Lord, I pray that you would help me this week to see myself the way you see me, not the way I think I am. Lord, as you begin to reveal this to me, help me to grow in a God-glorifying attitude, falling deeper in love with you. I love you so much and thank you for being in my life. Thank you that I am a female created beautiful in your sight, just the way you wanted."

Ladies, the next time you see a magazine cover with a “model figure” on it or a TV commercial that has the female who looks “just right, ” may you be reminded that you are “just right” and fearfully and wonderfully created in God’s image. You are beautiful and lovely in form.