Hurtful Reality of False Hope in a Loveless Relationship

Can you imagine the hurt of knowing your husband didn’t love you, but instead he loved your younger sister? How painful that must’ve been! That was the situation for Leah; she was Jacob’s unloved wife. She knew that he loved Rachel. Yet, she loved him. We live in a fallen world due to disobedience to our heavenly Father; therefore, we experience consequences we’d prefer to avoid.  Leah experienced the hurtful reality of having false hope in a loveless relationship.

About one month after Jacob arrived in Haran and stayed as a guest in his Uncle Laban’s home, his uncle inquired of him as to whether he should serve him for nothing because he was his relative. “What should your wages be” (v.15b)? Jacob loved Rachel so his response to Laban’s question was that he would serve him seven years for Rachel his younger daughter (V.18). This was essentially Jacob’s offer of a   dowry to show that he was able to and willing to take care of a wife. Scripture described Leah’s eyes as being delicate, or weak, in contrast to Rachel being beautiful of form and appearance (17). When Jacob fulfilled the seven-year contract as promised, he asked his Uncle Laban to give him his wife that he may go in unto her (vv. 20a-21). Laban brought all the men of the place together and made a feast as was customary (v. 22). When evening came, Laban took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her (v. 23).

When morning came, Jacob realized that it was Leah (v.25), and he wasn’t happy. Laban’s explanation: “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn” (v. 26). Jacob agreed to fulfill Leah’s week and he was given Rachel also for another seven years of service with Laban (vv. 27-28). Leah must’ve been heart-broken. She may have thought that she was actually getting a husband. However, she experienced the hurtful reality of having false hope in a loveless relationship. It seemed as if her heart was in the wrong man. A changed heart will result in a changed life.