Author: Vanessa Moonkie

“Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭32‬-‭NIV‬‬

Happy new week family. I hope you are keeping well and still believe that we are going to finish strong this 2024! We are almost through with the Leah series then we will study another bible character. Let’s go!

There is something very touching about Leah’s life. She strikes as a woman of sorrow. A woman who lost herself in the shadows of rejection and trying to fit in. I see low-self esteem. Isn’t it amazing? That love gives us confidence and boldness? It boosts our self esteem to know that we are loved and accepted. There’s a way you’ll walk, talk, pose that shows positiveness. At this point God has seen what is happening in Jacob’s household. God surely knows what’s happening in every house hold. Yes, the abusive uncle? The absent mother? The dramatic sibling 😂 ? That there was no food yesterday. The wild parties that we sometimes have in families. The unfairness? The gossip? Even the things that happen behind our walls are seen . Let’s always remember that. God who gave us eyes to see , can also see.

Jacob, even though he did not love Leah, still was willing to have sex with her. I mean!!! I thought he’d get busy with Rachel only. This demonstrates a principle that is still true, that a man will often be willing to have sex completely apart from love. We live in a generation that confuses sex for love or vice versa. This is actually one of the biggest problems common to everyone in every nation because lust is not tribalistic or racist. Sex is not proof of love. Most times it is proof of lust and lust is a spirit that takes and keeps taking.

Leah was not the first, nor the last, to live under this problem of male nature. This is not to slander men or incite feminism. Even the males know of this and many of them actually acknowledge that some of the ladies they got together with, it had nothing to do with love. Only a foolish woman regards the willingness to have sex as proof of love. So Jacob rightfully so, has sex with his wife and she gets pregnant. Sometimes people know that the person does not love them but they give their bodies anyways. Rejection can make people so vulnerable to even accept the unacceptable because they really wish to fill a gap. The gap that only love can fill.

Leah must’ve been excited to have a son moreover, a son for Jacob. I mean this is the man who spins her world around. Surely she’d be ecstatic about sharing this beautiful bond with him. She names the boy Rueben and she says something interesting , “Surely my husband will love me now.” I gave him something surely he will love me. I gave her money, surely she will marry me. I gave him my body surely I’m the only woman in his life. I check up on them more than anyone, they will choose me. I have sacrificed so much for them, they will surely acknowledge me. If God gave us Christ and people still reject Him , how are we so sure that giving or gifting something to someone automatically makes us their priority? You can give and give and never get anything back.

Leah hoped the new baby would cause him to love her but Jacob did not see things the way she did. His love could not be bought even by a son. Leah is expressing her unfulfilled desire of gaining her husband’s affection through childbearing. Another lesson, having children for him will not trap him to marry or love you. Buying her wigs and paying her fees will not emotionally trap her into saying yes l do! People always do what they want to do because they have a will. People choose who they want to choose . Let them. It’s sad isn’t it? You could give your all and get nothing. God gave Leah a son for her own happiness but she missed her moment of gratitude by fixing her eyes on Jacob.

If you’re dealing with rejection I want you to know, no matter how much you try to make them love you, they won’t because love is not by force. Accept that it is not you that they have chosen. Am l saying hate them? No. But do not hate yourself so much that you squeeze yourself in places and rooms that cringe at your presence. I will tell you who chooses you all day everyday though,,,

His name is Jesus Christ.💗

Hey family. I don’t have much to say today lol but I’d like to give us a tweensy weensy piece of advice that my Dad shared. “Learn something new everyday.” It may be through listening to a podcast or reading a book or simply listening to your leader or mentor . Refuse to carry old information daily. I’ve realised that transformation happens daily to those who yield to the principles. Even Facebook type bar asks you What’s New? Because there should be something new happening in our lives daily. If you’re a business person, start binging on established business people’s teachings , find out the how’s then apply. I am making a vow to myself that I cannot be small any longer. Greatness is not an importation. Greatness is a decision and then it is empowered by the Spirit of God.

Okay now, l hope we are going to use that little information. Our chilled Thursdays will now be interactive. Let’s update each other as a way of accountability on what we’re currently reading , listening to or studying. That way you know you are not only accountable but also doing what you ought to do when you should do it . I will start, this week I’m locking in on DR Myles Munroe teachings and I am also studying my course. I intend to be done with the paperwork I am currently going through by tomorrow morning.

Ohh andddddd to my book worms; Here’s a book

The true definition of worship in the English dictionary: the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. Hebrew worship means: worship, bend, prostrate oneself, adore.

Worship can shift your mindset and change your perspective of the world, of yourself, of others and even of GOD. Worship can push you into your destiny and cleanse you of your past. Personally, worship refreshes me. Like a cold shower on a very hot day or fresh breeze after rainfall. Worship is my resting place. My emotions stop spiralling. My mind stops pacing. My heart beats normally in the presence of the Everlasting God. Worship heals wounds and breaks generational curses. Worship does more than what a painkiller does when you have a bomb of a migraine , worship is surgery. You find healing , deliverance, restoration in worship. Worship, lets you hear God and lets God hear you. Worship tells God you’re grateful for winning and even more grateful that you’re alive to worship. There’s so much we could say but why not use all that excitement by actually worshipping today.

“And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭28‬, ‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

My dear Yielded Family. I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support and love. Thank you for showing up at the event and for being such an amazing people. God bless you. We are back with our blogs. About a week ago , we started the study on a woman in the bible called Leah. If you missed it, l encourage you to search for it on the search bar and read Leah [1]

“When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jacob has worked for 7 years to get to marry the love of his life Rachel. It must’ve been some form of dowry. I love this about Jacob, he was a doer. Just to declare this, the man God has for you will see your parents and do the needful. No one will come, like you and just play around. Jacob was in love and he did what he had to do to show that he was serious about Rachel. Effort is a reflection of interest and value. Let’s continue. The evidence from studies on Ancient Israel and Biblical history suggests that men were allowed to marry multiple women and that marriage between cousins was common.

Our first verse talks about the wedding night where Laban, instead of bringing Rachel whom Jacob had worked for, brought Leah, the one Jacob did not love. How could Jacob not see that he married Leah? Darkness could have had something to do with it. Laban could have purposefully waited until it was dark to bring Leah to Jacob because he wanted to make sure they could not see each other. A cheat cheated a cheat. Jacob finally met his match. The deceiver deceived. The betrayer betrayed.

It may have been the custom for the consummation of marriage not to occur until after the late evening. Either way, it was dark, a fact that the Bible mentions. In the darkness you cannot see much or at all. Maybe Leah had a veil and that’s why Jacob did not notice. It is also possible that Leah and Rachel looked similar and were generally the same size, and Jacob couldn’t tell them apart. Orrrrr maybe he just did not imagine that his uncle would do that to him, he trusted him. He never thought he’d someday receive his own plate of disappointment like his brother Esau. Whatsoever a man sows, he shall reap.

We know that Jacob did not love Leah. When he discovers that he had been given her and had already made love to her, he felt disappointed, angry, frustrated. Is it possible that when a partner who doesn’t love you has intercourse with you this is how they feel afterwards? His words are too strong , “ What is this you have done to me?” .. the tone we decipher is definitely an angry tone. Now imagine Leah , after losing her virginity, hears such a thing! That the man who just deflowered her is angered by it. This is the second time her rejection is highlighted.

It could be that Leah and Rachel were fooled as well. Perhaps Laban did not tell his daughters about his arrangement with Jacob and Leah assumed that, according to custom, she (as the older daughter) was to marry Jacob that night. Imagine Leah’s shock and sadness when Jacob woke up upset about having married her and then reveals to her that he had been working seven years for her sister. The “you are not supposed to be here with this title, this position, this access because someone else was preferred,” kind of talk.

Although we’re focusing on Leah, l want to highlight that you could go to bed with Rachel and wake up with Leah. Waking up with what you never desired or asked for. I don’t know how Leah felt at this point. She must’ve cried. I know I would have. She must’ve wondered how her father put her in such a mess. She must’ve wondered why Jacob didn’t like her. She must’ve felt rejected and disappointed. To assume you’re not wanted is different from knowing for a fact that you aren’t. Not wanted by your father who knows he’ll have a hard time getting you married so he cheats you in. Not wanted by a man who just took your virginity. Leah could be a man, It could be a guy facing so much rejection.

When realisation of rejection comes , one may walk away. Others bleed inside but stay. Others create an identity around that. In areas of life where you’ve been rejected although you qualified, I want to encourage you by saying, God accepts you. God loves you. You are seen. You are special. You are deserving. You are loved.

See you tomorrow ❤️