2024_07_24 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Genesis 29, Genesis 30, Genesis 49:31, Ruth 4:11
We don’t know much about Jacob’s first wife, Leah. She was the oldest daughter of Laban (Jacob’s uncle) and was part of a deceptive plan that Laban hatched to get Jacob to support him for many years.
Though we don’t know much about Leah, what we first learn is this:
“Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. 17 There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face.” Genesis 29:16–17 (NLT)
Two things stand out to me: 1. What’s the deal with Leah’s eyes? and 2. How do you cope with unfair comparisons?
Leah’s eyes are something experts have puzzled over. Read various commentaries, and you will see everything from Leah’s eyes being cute and doe-like, to her eyes having a weakness in either color or function. All we know for certain is that her eyes were her most notable physical feature and not for the positive. That leads to the second thing, which was the comparison she constantly endured with her gorgeous younger sister. This was a daily issue because they were married to the same husband, and he was most attracted to Rachel. Every day, Leah was faced with the truth that she was less attractive and desirable.
This side of eternity we are going to have to deal with unfair situations. Beauty, opportunity, health, financial resources, and other factors are not evenly distributed. Comparisons are hard to avoid. The internet and social media exposure means we have even more people to compare our lives with… argh! We don’t have to play the victim, though. Followers of Jesus have the ability to rise above comparisons with others and embrace their life head-on. In the New Testament, we read, “I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12–13 (NLT) Paul is addressing material needs, but I believe it is broader to include whatever our life circumstances are. God’s presence and purpose in our lives give us all we need to flourish and fulfill our full potential. When we fall into the trap of comparison with others, we forget that our primary attention should be on our Savior and Best Friend, Jesus. A song by Helen Lemmel puts it perfectly:
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”
[The Heavenly Vision aka Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus]
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor