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February 14
Thursday


SECOND BEST?

READ:
Genesis 29:16-30
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While we were still
sinners, Christ died for
us. __Romans 5:8
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Leah must have laid awake all night thinking of the moment when her new husband would awaken. She knew that it was not her face he expected to see, but Rachel's. Jacob had been a victim of deception, and when he realized that a "bait and switch" had occurred, he quickly made a new deal with Laban to claim the woman he had been promised (Gen. 29:25-27).

Have you ever felt insignificant or second-best? Leah felt that way. It's seen in the names she chose for her first three sons (vv.31-35). Reuben means "See, a Son"; Simeon means "Heard"; and Levi means "Attached." Their names were all plays on words that indicated the lack of love she felt from Jacob. With each son's birth, she desperately hoped she would move up in Jacob's affections and earn his love. But slowly Leah's attitude changed, and she named her fourth son Judah, which means "Praise" (v.35). Though she felt unloved by her husband, perhaps she now realized she was greatly loved by God.

We can never "earn" God's love, because it's not dependent on what we do. In truth, the Bible tells us that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). In God's eyes, we are worth the best that heaven could offer__the gift of His precious Son. __Cindy Hess Kasper
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~~~~~~~~~~~Love sent the Savior to die in my stead.~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Why should He love me so?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~Meekly to Calvary's cross He was led.~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~Why should He love me so? __Harkness~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Nothing speaks more clearly of
God's love than the cross.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Genesis 29:16-30***************

16 Now Laban had two
daughters: the name of the
elder was Leah, and the
name of the younger was
Rachel.... 18 Now Jacob
loved Rachel; so he said, "I
will serve you seven years
for Rachel your younger
daughter."

19 And Laban said, "It is
better that I give her to you
than that I should give her to
another man. Stay with me."

20 So Jacob served seven
years for Rachel, and they
seemed only a few days to
him because of the love he
had for her.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban,
"Give me my wife, for my
days are fulfilled, that I may
go in to her." ...
23 Now it came to pass in
the evening, that he took
Leah his daughter and
brought her to Jacob; and he
went in to her....

25 So it came to pass in the
morning, that behold, it was
Leah. And he said to Laban,
"What is this you have done
to me? Was it not for Rachel
that I serve you? Why then
have you deceived me?"

26 And Laban said, "It must
not be done so in our
country, to give the younger
before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill
her week, and we will give
you this one also for the
service which you will serve
with me still another seven
years."

28 Then Jacob did so and
fulfilled her week. So he
gave him his daughter
Rachel as wife also....

30 Then Jacob also went in to
Rachel, and he also loved
Rachel more than Leah. And
he served with Laban still
another seven years.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Bible does not shy away from describing the sinful behavior or
its characters. We see here the lies and double-dealing of Laban in
marrying off Leah to Jacob. Nonetheless, the holy God of grace is
behind the scenes moving His plan of redemption forward (Eph. 1:11).