.  Living Hope Fellowship Church....Sermons by the Pastor 

LEAH'S HOPE

by Pastor Kevin Badgley 05/19/99

            Because of his own deceitfulness, Jacob ran for his life.  On the way to Syria God appeared to him and promised that He would be with him and would multiply him greatly if he would serve Him. 

            Jacob found his mother’s family and wanted to marry beautiful Rachel.  Leah was not particularly attractive, but she was the oldest and therefore first in line to be married.

            Jacob labored seven years to get Rachel, but Jacob’s father-in-law, Laban, was just as conniving as he was.  He tricked Jacob into marrying Leah and made him serve seven more years to get Rachel.  Something inside of me cries when I think about the great struggle between Jacob, Leah, and Rachel.

            Genesis 29:31 says, “And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.”  Leah was the fruitful one.  Rachel only bore two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. 

            God hearkened to Leah.  Though you may be despised and have troubles, God will hearken to you at your lowest time.  Leah is a type of God’s design for your life.  Rachel is a type of your design for your life, and it is of course the most appealing to you, the one you actually work for, and there is a war going on!

            Jacob only came around Leah when he had to.  Liken this to how some treat the Spirit of God!  Jesus was despised and rejected of men.  The fruitful one is the Spirit of the Living God.  Our spirit and self will constantly war with the Spirit of God.  Sometimes we neglect Him; sometimes we don’t listen; we quench God’s Spirit. 

            The Bible says that no man hates his own flesh.  That is why fasting is such a powerful element in prayer time.  We prove our love for God by fasting.  We seek God for a time that we might get a hold of Him and become spiritually minded.  We put down our carnality to get in tune with the Living God.

            Leah is a type of God’s plan in your life, and Rachel is a type of your plan for your life.  You are married to both of them, and you are having all kinds of trouble!  We are supposed to be married to the Lord, but we also are married to this world and self.  The Bible says it is legal to be married to another after the husband is dead.  (See Romans 7:3.)  Jesus said in Luke 9:62 that looking back makes you unfit for the kingdom of God!

            Over the years, Jacob had a change in his heart about Leah.  God had plans for Jacob, and Jacob had his own plans.  The devil has only one plan for you.  John 10:10 says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. . . .”

            Jesus saves us and fills us with the Holy Ghost so we can do what Jesus did.  Acts 10:38 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

            Genesis 30:22 says, “And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.”  Later an incident was recorded where Rachel took her father’s gods.  She had other gods and other plans.  She was carnal.

            Rachel died on the way to Bethlehem, the place where the King of Kings was born.  Jacob was on the way back to where he started with God.  It is difficult to leave behind the one you have always loved.  Jacob’s focus on his own plans died there also.  You are getting close to God when all of your self plans die.   The fruitful one who was with you all the time and brought you to that place is still there.  God is the One you hated and quenched so many times, and told, “Will you leave me alone.  I will get to you when I feel like it!  I know my obligations, but right now I’m busy!”  Thank God, He is still there. 

            Leah, the hated one, was buried beside her husband.  That was a great honor.  Jacob died and made Heaven his home.  It was not because of a natural Leah, but because he finally got it in his soul what God wanted for him.  God took away the most precious thing to Jacob, to show him the more precious thing that HE had for him.  The Bible says that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.  The first thing that you had on your mind was your will, not God’s will, but your will has got to come last. 

            When all of your desires perish, then God’s perfect will can be fulfilled, and you can walk exactly like Jesus!  John 3:30 says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Ask God to set you free from your own plans, so that you are not buried with them!  Call on God if you are having difficulties or confusion.  Let Him lead you in the way He has chosen and trust Him!  ~

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