Heart & Soul
By Marshall Shelley
January 1, 1995
For the past five years, part of my job has been to develop a study Bible that addresses the honest questions people today have while reading the Bible. For instance:
Why does the Bible not condemn slavery?
Why was polygamy condoned (apparently) in the Old Testament, but not in the New?
Why circumcision? And why that part of the body?
But one of the questions I couldn't forget came from a young woman, recently married, who read Genesis 29 and wondered, "How come Jacob didn't realize he'd married Leah until the morning after his wedding night?"
The answer we eventually published next to verses 2325 in The Quest Study Bible says something about the darkness of the tent, the possibility of Jacob's senses being dulled by the eating and drinking at the wedding feast, and the veils worn by a bride who probably wanted the deception to succeed.
But that question has since prompted me to wonder not just about their wedding night, but also about their marriage. What happened in Leah's soul, knowing she was a tolerated but unloved spouse?
Did she feel unappreciated, taken for granted? Did she ever resent performing her marital duties for an ungrateful husband whose real affections were elsewhere? We know she named her first son Reuben--"He has seen my misery."
For anyone in church leadership, it's sometimes easy to identify with Leah. We offer our best to people whose affections often lie elsewhere. People expect, even demand, thoughtful sermons, warm hospitality, and attention to administrative detail week after week. And the thanks we get? Sometimes precious little.
Church leaders certainly aren't the only ones facing this temptation to feel unappreciated. The antidote? I find great encouragement in the rest of Leah's life.
She continues to ...
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