When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” (29:31–32)
Our God is involved. I know I have written this before, but this is so important that it bears repeating. We see this throughout Scripture, but sometimes in our atheistic society, we don’t notice; we don’t believe; or we don’t realize how involved God is in our daily lives. If He notices each sparrow that falls (Matthew 10:29) He sees and cares for us.
God was aware that Leah was unloved, so He opened her womb, but kept Rachel childless for the time being. Bearing children was hugely important and to be desired in that society, and God gave this gift to Leah on purpose.
Note that bearing children is a gift from God. When Rachel wasn’t bearing children, she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” (Genesis 30:1). Jacob’s response was, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” (Genesis 30:2). Jacob understands that God is in control of giving women babies, and Rachel understands it as well, for when she finally conceives a son, she says, “God has taken away my reproach” (Genesis 30:23). But if this isn’t enough for the reader, the Scriptures say, “Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb” (Genesis 30:22).
Sidenote: God’s Torah wasn’t given yet, but generations later, when it is, having both a woman and her sister for wives, is forbidden. One can easily see why. Our society has moved away from God’s directives, but His directives are good, and for our good!
While our society doesn’t value children very much, God does. Approximately nine hundred years later, God inspired Solomon to write Psalm 127 which says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3). God doesn’t give everyone the gift of children; He has many other gifts with which He blesses various people according to His will. But do we ever say, “That’s enough health, and I don’t want any more,” or “That’s enough wealth, Lord, no more, please,” or “That’s enough peace”? Have we caught our society’s mindset about children? I hadn’t thought about this until Alan and I were engaged, and he showed from the Scriptures God’s value of children, at which point, I adopted His mindset. In His lavish grace, He gifted us with ten. I have met others who adopted God’s mindset on children, and did not have any, or only had two or three. That’s because God actually does open and close the womb for His own reasons and purposes. Yet another area to seek Him about.
Prayer: Oh God, show me where I am being “secular” and not seeing You at work, although You are! I thank You for Your care and involvement in my life! Your ways are good, may I and my loved ones diligently walk in them! Amen.
