Then Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher.”
Genesis 30:13
People, things, events, careers, even activities may bring us momentary Happiness, but Forever Joy comes only from the Lord.
Leah and Rachel, sisters, sister wives…nothing in this matrimony situation could be good. Not only is your husband married to 2 women, but your sister at that, no thank you! But Jacob loved Rachel, and Leah was the older sister who had to be married first. So Laban, father of the brides, tricked Jacob into marrying Leah.
After 7 years of working Laban’s fields, Jacob was able to now marry his first love, Rachel. But 2 wives plus 2 female servants equaled 10 times the jealousy. Rachel may have had Jacob’s heart, but Leah was the only wife able to conceive. Jealousy in the marriage caused 4 women to be sleeping with the same man to enable all women to have children. 12 of which children, were born in Laban’s home. (The 13th came later once Jacob moved.)
With this much emotion and hormones going on in one home each child would be named by how the sister wife was feeling at that time.
Leah’s children include:
- Reuben – for the misery she was in
- Simeon – because God heard her prayers
- Levi – now her husband would be attached to her
- Judah – for praising the Lord
- Gad – for the good fortune of another son (this child was through her servant Zilpah)
- Asher – he makes her happy (through Zilpah)
- Issachar – she’s been rewarded
- Zebulun – she’s been honored
- And eventually a daughter named Dinah
Rachel’s children include:
- Dan – she was vindicated (through her servant Bilhah)
- Naphtali – children were her struggle (through Bilhah)
- And finally Joseph – may he be added to (Rachel held out hope God would give her more children.)
Each one of the boys was named from a momentary feeling, and Leah, feeling unloved, had one child she would name “Asher” because for that moment she was happy. But happiness is fleeting, and this feeling for Leah too passed, and she became Jealous and Angry, again.
But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my sons mandrakes too? “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your sons mandrakes.”
Genesis 30:15
Leah tried to buy Jacob’s love with a mandrake, probably thinking, if only I were to have more children with him he will love me more and I will be happy again.
No person, no thing, no amount of money, not an activity or event, no career or anything else for that matter will bring us more than a moment of happiness….when what we are truly desiring is overflowing Joy. And Joy my friends, comes only from the Lord.
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with Joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord, my God, I will praise you forever.”
Psalm 30:11-12
What Leah needed, we all need, Joy that turns out heartache into dancing. Our selfish desires can seek happiness all day long but our soul is actually searching for Joy.
This Joy was made complete in Jesus’ love. When we stop seeking self and start seeking to love others as Jesus loved us, we remain in His love and our Joy is made complete.
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:9-12
When we think happiness will come from “things” that are fleeting (here today and gone tomorrow) we are thinking of ourselves. But when we look to make others happy by loving them as Jesus has loved us, we will be filled with an overflowing Joy.
My sweet friends, as I write these words to you, God speaks them to me. Over the past year I have sought out ways to have “fun” in momentary happiness. When those moments passed, I felt less than I felt before and looked for more ways to have fun. I never stopped seeking God, I never stopped believing His truths, but instead of seeking to serve and love others, I sought out happiness for myself (aka I was selfish). At the beginning of December I realized how completely lost I was, I couldn’t figure out where my old self was or who I was supposed to be, and so I prayed. I prayed and I fasted for 2 weeks. I prayed and fasted until God revealed to me THIS TRUTH! God spoke so deeply into my heart, making me aware of my selfish desires of happiness and revealing to me His desires for me to use the gifts He’d given me. These gifts He gives us are ways in which He wants each of us to love others. And this is why I share the writings He has written on my heart over the years.
This year, only 3 weeks in, I already feel an awakening within my soul. I’m filled with more Joy than I can even describe. This joy is unceasing, even in moments of hardship, all because of his great Love for me.
You can experience His Joy too! When you love others, seeking to show them God’s love, instead of seeking happiness for yourself, you will experience more Joy than you have ever experienced before.
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Running 2 Fly 