Leah- Unloved of man, Chosen of God.

The story about to be shared is about a young lady, Leah. I hope that this story,will bring you comfort through your hardships, courage to forge on, and the knowledge of God’s love and sovereign grace.

Leah was first introduced in Genesis 29. In this chapter Jacob was fleeing the wrath of his brother Esau. Jacob was guilty for having deceitfully received the blessing that his father intended to give his brother. So in the quest for preserving his life, and seeking a new beginning, he arrives at Haran where his mother’s brother lives. His uncle Laban received him with open arms and Jacob was quick to begin serving Laban diligently. As such, after a month of staying with his uncle, we read in Genesis 29:15-19 that;

“Laban said to him, ‘You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.’ Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, ‘I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.’ “Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.”

Seven years passed, but to Jacob, "His love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few years." His uncle threw a big party to celebrate the union, and at night time, his bride was given him. At this point Jacob it is safe to say that this young man was elated! The woman of his dreams after much working and waiting was now his. So he consummated the marriage to the one he thought was Rachel. In the morning following the union however, Jacob found out that His uncle Laban had deceitfully given him the wrong sister! Many negotiations later, his desired wife is given to him within a week and he is forced to serve for another seven years.

That deceit brings a lot of thoughts my way. Firstly, how would the young lady Leah feel? Her own father, gave her away to a man that cared nothing to marry her. Also, that must have created tension between her and her sister. For seven years, her younger sister had ‘dated’ this man, knowing that he was soon to be hers. Then that very time comes and her older sister is the focus. Leah who had no hand in this deceit received the worst treatment- angry, discontent husband, a sister who probably cannot even look her in the eye and friends who cannot believe she would stoop so low!

Through all this she begins to bare children; and the names of her first 4 sons show the state of of her mind and heart. Reuben- “God has looked on my affliction, now my husband will love me”. Simeon- “God heard that I’m unloved and he has given me this son. Levi- My husband will become attached to me because I’ve borne him 3 sons Judah- Let God be praised. One thing is for sure, Leah is a praying woman. In her miserable state, she continues to petition her Lord for children and relief of her suffering. Also it is evident, she is earnestly desiring love, attention and affection from this man who only seems to be a bed-mate. The lowest point in the entire story of Leah is found in Genesis 30:13-16; when she gave of the mandrakes her son had brought for her to her sister, in exchange for a night with their husband. That act showed not only a desperation, but a lack of shame and self-worth. Indeed this story, with primary focus on Leah, showcases God working through the unhappy, lonely and most negative times in her life to still bring to effect his purpose.

What purpose could that be? you ask... Well, this woman is in the lineage of Jesus! She is the mother of Judah(Jacob’s 4th son). Jacob’s 12 sons became the tribes of Israel and Judah is the tribe that King David came from, and also it’s the tribe that the Messiah- the Lion of that tribe himself descended from! So this unloved, neglected, plain-looking woman was loved, pampered and beautiful in God’s sight! Not only that, regardless of how she’s perceived in her world, in His eyes she is priceless.

This is not to say that Leah was perfect! Not at all, she could have being more steadfast in prayer and faith, perhaps been more positive, less jealous, and the list goes on. But through it all, she persevered; something a lot of us lack today. And in the end, we see in Genesis 49:31; she was buried alongside the greats- Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and her shared earth husband Israel. Yes, the imperfect and unloved Leah was chosen of the King to mother the tribe of the Messiah. Just like that, we irrelevant, perhaps overlooked and unappreciated daughters of the king will be empowered by His Spirit to accomplish our purpose on earth. Amen.

(c)Toyin

Naomi: Call me 'Mara'

Naomi: Pleasant, beautiful 

Mara: Bitter (definitely not pleasant)

The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. Then Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later,  both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.

Ruth 1:2-5 (NLT)

Three short verses. Three big changes. I'm always bemused by the story tellers, how they cram our lives into short sentences, short paragraphs, squeezing a life time into a few pages. I doubt if all the journals in the world would be enough for me to pen the pain that came with losing my husband and having to raise two sons on my own. Not only on my own but in a strange land without family support. Who was to teach the sons to be men? To be husbands? To be fathers? But it was ok, life dealt me a terrible hand but I had my boys. Or so I thought. The day we buried Chilion, I didn't cry. All my tears had been spent at Mahlon's funeral. Could it be true that my world had drastically changed in such a short period of time? Were my sons really gone to the land of no return?

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara,for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

Ruth 1:20-21

Please don't judge me. I had to call it as I saw it. For my life had neither been beautiful or pleasant and at that point in my life all I could see was bitterness. We left for Moab full of dreams, dreams of prosperity, dreams of provision, dreams of seeing our grandchildren and bringing them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And I returned with nothing. But no, not nothing for although at the time I couldn't see it. I came back with Ruth, my daughter and my friend. In her I saw the sermons I had taught about Yahweh, about His provision and His love. I saw her live the messages I had preached about His ability to take you through the changing scenes and seasons of life because He himself was unchanging. 

To you dear woman reading this excerpt, you may have chosen to allow yourself be defined by the curveballs that life has thrown your way. Maybe you haven't verbalised it, maybe you've never told anyone that deep down you call yourself 'Shame' or 'Failure'. And yes, you may have cause to call yourself 'Mara' and turn your back on Him, the One who loves you most. But from someone who has been there and done that I want to encourage. I can because I know. I know what it is to be disillusioned, to be depressed, to ask God why he let you see a new day, to see the house of cards all come tumbling down. 

Listen to me. Hard times are not a sign that God has forgotten about you. He never forgets about you. It takes time to heal from any type of hurt. You're not just going to jump out of bed and be all better. However I need you to focus on the goodness of God to you. Make Him your best friend. Tell Him where and how it hurts. Don't allow life make you bitter. Take it from a widow, He reaches deep down where no husband could. Open your eyes, there's a 'Ruth' somewhere who reminds you of who you used to be. Life isn't about not facing storms. Its about going through them and coming out on the other side. You may never understand why what happened did but don't lose your faith. You also need to do something, you can't stay where you are. I'll repeat that, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING..lol! I had to go back home..to Bethlehem, where the real bread was. Only you knows where your Bethlehem is.

I'm glad no one ever called me Mara, its good to surround yourself with good people. All over the world, people are still talking about me. Calling me a model 'mother-in-law' and all. Thing is I never set out to be this great woman of faith and I'm happy my lowest points were recorded for all to see. Its was never about me, always about Him. If He can use me, He can use you too. 

We'll always have 'Mara' situations and circumstances but always remember you are 'Naomi' despite it all.

Keep winning with God.

Your's truly

Naomi


(C) ZoeBeliever

Jephthah's Daughter

“And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord.He said, “If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the Lord the firstthing coming out of my house to greet mewhen I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as burnt offering” 

In just six verses a young unnamed woman is mentioned. Ironically her grandmother was a harlot who brought forth a strong soldier, warrior and leader called Jephthah. Jephthah’s father was Gilead (Gilead in Hebrew means “Hill of Testimony”).

Jephthah had a grueling experience as a child. He was sent out from among his brethren because they believed he was of a strange woman. However, God groomed him and Jephthah built an army of worthless men. Then the leaders of Gilead searched for him to lead them into battle. Jephthah is he who went into battle without recording a loss.

“Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites and the Lord handed them over to him.

In a great defeat Jephthah struck them down from the city of Arooer to the area of Minnith…

So the Ammonites were defeated by the Israelites.” Judges 11: 32

Jephthah conquered the strongest armies of that time and had unbeatable victory.

The Bible does not give us any details of his wife save his only daughter who as a mark of celebration for her Father’s outstanding victory comes out jubilant and playing the “tambourine.  

A brief study on the “timbrel, tabret or tambourine” -as popularly known- traces its roots back to the Bible and was further associated with women of ancient Middle East. The little instrument has a little drum with metal jingles attached to make the rhythmic sounds. The dancer shakes or hits the top with her hand, against the leg or arm.

The timbrels were a symbol of celebration and associated with dancing as in Exodus 15 verse 20; “Then Miriam the Prophet Aaron’s sister took a tambourine and led all the women in rhythm and dance.”

It was also an instrument of praise to God; “Praise his name with dancing accompanied by tambourine and harp (Ps.149 verse 3).

This young lady gave her Father a warm Jewish welcome- I imagine how hard she danced to applaud and encourage his brevity- only to be greeted by her Father’s show of brokenness on account of the vow he had made to the Lord in battle. Jephthah tore his garment as a sign of grief and pain because the vow could not be revoked.

I wonder if Jephthah did not think of the implication of the vow he made before making such a rash utterance knowing  he had no others sons or daughters save this young damsel.

The beauty of this whole story is her willingness to let down her life as a sacrifice just like the only begotten son was given as a ransom for our sins though it’s nothing to be compared with Christ.

She knew no man because she was a virgin yet she did not struggle with her Father over satisfying her desire to marry before being sacrificed to the Lord. She only asked to go to the mountains for two months to mourn and bid her friends farewell since she would never marry.

How willing are we to give to the Lord the only most important thing in our lives when he needs it most? That thing maybe YOU or ME as Romans 12 verse 1 speaks that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God for this is our reasonable SACRIFICE.

 I am not sure I would give up an only child or my only car but she forfeited the pleasures and comforts of this life to die in an excruciating manner.  But that affirms the awesome and unquestionable attributes of God. He may have orchestrated Jephthah to give up the thing he held so dear for futuristic purposes (who knows).

Most times God shows us how attached we are to the things of this life. He disciplines our flesh by taking away the very thing we treasure the most (to him they maybe weights not needed for the next level of our lives).God emphasizes that nothing in this life belongs to us, all things are a gift from God and since he is the giver, he can require of them at any given time.

Oh! Thank Jesus for offering his life in our place but he still makes demands on us to give to him one thing we treasure or hold dear. He will not ask for one out of twenty, but the only thing we hold as dear as a sacrifice to Him.

Jephthah recorded more victory after the death of his ONLY daughter.

Salient lesson: One thing God will require from us will cost a great price. 

(c) Enobong 

Shiphrah and Puah: Fearless Midwives

 ^“And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.”  ^{Exodus 1:15-21}

Shiphrah and Puah were gutsy women. They were Hebrew slaves and understood the consequences of disobedience yet they chose to disobey the great Pharaoh and save the Hebrew children. Why? Because they feared God. 




Because of what they did, fearing God and saving the lives of the male children God dealt well with these women and He made them houses. I simply love women who take God at His word, who are not intimidated by the enemy’s lame roar.


Shiphrah and Puah positioned themselves to help birth the deliverer of Israel whom they saw firsthand. God could have bypassed them and raised another but they stood their ground, their faith tested even at the most difficult period. God ensured their lives were spared. It never occurred to Pharaoh to execute them or refuse to accept their claim that the Hebrew women birthed vibrantly. Through them, the people multiplied and waxed mighty. 


That was a huge responsibility but they didn’t fail God.

1.      Shiphrah and Puah feared God and as a consequence were not afraid of the repercussions of their actions and decision

2.      They followed God’s assignment for their lives, to save every male child and through their obedience, the people multiplied.

3.      God highly favoured them and blessed them.

May every assignment, every seed the Lord has committed into our hands be judiciously utilized and sown in righteousness and like the servant with the ten talents, may the Lord come that day and say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Amen and amen!

(c)Histiara

Mothers of Mothers: Lois & Eunice

"When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also." 2 Tim 1:5 (KJV)

"I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), [a faith] that first lived permanently in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am [fully] persuaded, [dwells] in you also." (The Amplified)

I read that Timothy was only fifteen when he left his Mother (Lois) and Grandmother (Eunice) to join Paul’s evangelistic team. And Paul loved and talked glowingly of Timothy’s godly heritage which informed his trust in the young man. These two women no doubt had invested so much in Timothy’s life such that he was an outstanding witness for the Lord. 

We can never over-emphasize the importance of giving our children a godly heritage. We were not given any other information save the testimony of Timothy’s life and that was a powerful testimony. 


These women loved God; had an unshakable faith in Him and it translated into a transformed life. Timothy was a faithful follower, a true servant and one who had genuine faith. He was the product of two outstanding women of God.

Lois and Eunices’ testimony stresses the fact that nothing is more important in the life of a God-fearing mother’s life than the early training of her children. It brings to mind the scripture: 

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov:22:6 (KJV)

..and I love this translation: 

"Point your kids in the right direction—    when they're old they won't be lost."  (The message)

At just fifteen years of age, Timothy was matured spiritually. Lois and Eunice recognized his gifting and let him go to do the work of God. They didn’t invest in his life for themselves but they understood they were merely custodians of their son. At the right time, they let him go. Letting go must have been hard for them but they knew the time frame and keyed into God’s timing.

May we like Lois and Eunice be such godly women, fully equipped to invest deeply in our children’s lives and with wisdom and sensitivity in the spirit, steer them in the right direction and usher them to the threshold of their destiny. Amen!
(c)Histiara