Finding Love in God 在上帝那里寻找爱

[Dexu Xia]

The Lord saw that Leah was not loved. Genesis 29:31

Today's Scripture  Genesis 29:28-35

Today's Insights

Genesis 29:31–30:24 and 35:16-26 tell of the births of the twelve sons of Jacob, whose name means “deceiver.” His name was later changed by God to Israel, which means, he “struggled with God” (32:28). Jacob’s life was characterized by favoritism (29:18, 30), spousal neglect, jealousy, and rivalry (29:31–30:1). That God would name His chosen nation after Jacob and use his twelve sons to become the ancestral heads of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel points to His covenantal love and unmerited grace (see Romans 9:10-18). Equally noteworthy in Leah’s sad story is that two crucial institutions of the nation of Israel—the Aaronic-Levitical priesthood (Numbers 18:1-7) and the kingship (Genesis 49:10)—come from her third and fourth sons, Levi and Judah (29:34-35). These two sons were from a marriage in which she was unwanted and unloved. Yet God honored Leah and graciously looked after her (vv. 31-35; 30:17-21).

Today's Devotional

As a child, when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Ben would say, “I want to be like Dave.” Ben’s older brother was athletic, sociable, and an honor student. Ben, on the other hand, says, “I was clumsy in sports, timid, and struggled with a learning disability. I’d always wanted a close relationship with Dave, but he didn’t. He called me ‘the boring one.’ ”

Ben spent much of his life pursuing his older brother’s love in vain. It was only when Ben became a follower of Jesus that he learned to rest in the love of his Savior instead.

Leah, the first wife of Jacob, spent much of her life pursuing her husband’s love (Genesis 29:32-35). Jacob, however, remained devoted to Rachel. But God saw Leah’s plight and made up for the rejection in her life. He blessed her by allowing her to be a mother of many sons, a great honor in her culture at that time (v. 31). Leah, unseen and unheard by her husband, was lovingly seen and heard by God (vv. 32-33). She gave birth to a daughter and six sons (35:23), one of whom was Judah, a forefather of Jesus Himself. She said at his birth, “This time I will praise the Lord” (29:35). Leah lived a long life in Canaan and was buried in a place of honor—with Jacob’s family (49:29-32).

When we experience rejection, let’s find comfort in Leah’s story. We can rest in the love of God, who makes up for what we lack.

Reflect & Pray  How can you rest in God’s love when you’re rejected? How might you entrust your pain to Him?

Dear God, thank You that Your love heals me in all the hurts where I’ve been rejected.

上帝看到利亚失宠。创世记 29:31

  今日经文  创世记 29章8-35 节

  今日心得  创世记 29章31节，30:2章24节 和 35章16-26节讲述了雅各十二个儿子的出生，雅各这名字的含意是“骗子”。后来，神将他的名字改为以色列，意指他“与神争战”（32:28）。雅各一生的特征是偏袒（29:18, 30）、忽视原配、嫉妒和竞争（29:31–30:1）。神以祂为雅各改的名字以色列命名他所拣选的国家，并让他的十二个儿子成为以色列十二支派的祖先，这表达了上帝立约的爱和人不配得的恩典（见罗马书 9:10-18）。

  同样值得注意的是，在利亚的悲惨故事中，诞生了以色列国的两个重要制度：亚伦-利未祭司制度（民数记 18:1-7）来自她第三个儿子利未和王权制度（创世记 49:10）来自她第四个儿子犹大（29:34-35）。这两个儿子来自她一段不受欢迎、不被爱的婚姻。然而，上帝尊重利亚，仁慈地照顾她（31-35 节；30:17-21）。

  今天的灵修  小时候，当被问到“你长大后想做什么？”本会说：“我想成为像戴夫那样的人。”本的哥哥戴夫是运动健将、善于交际的优等生。同时，本说：“我在运动方面很笨拙，胆小，我有学习障碍。我一直想和戴夫建立亲密的关系，但戴夫不想，戴夫称我为‘无趣的人’。” 本一生中大部分时间都在徒劳地追求哥哥的爱。直到本成为耶稣的追随者后，他才学会在救主耶稣的爱中安息。

  利亚是雅各的第一任妻子，她一生中大部分时间都在追求丈夫的爱（创世记29:32-35）。然而，雅各仍然忠于拉结。但上帝看到了利亚的困境，弥补了她生命中遭受的拒绝。他祝福她，让她成为一名多子的母亲，这在当时的文化中是一种莫大的荣誉（31节）。利亚的丈夫看不见她，听不到她的声音，但上帝却深情地看着她，听她的声音（32-33 节）。她生了一个女儿和六个儿子（35:23），其中一个儿子是犹大，耶稣自己的祖先。她在儿子出生时说：“这一次我要赞美耶和华”（29:35）。利亚在迦南度过漫长的一生，并被埋葬在一个荣誉之地，与雅各的家人在一起（49:29-32）。

  当我们遭遇拒绝时，让我们从利亚的故事中寻找安慰。我们可以在上帝的爱中安息，他弥补了我们的不足。

反思和祈祷

  当你被拒绝时，你如何能在上帝的爱中安息？你如何将你的痛苦托付给他？

   亲爱的上帝，感谢你，你的爱治愈了我所有被拒绝的伤处.