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One night in a church meeting that I had been asked to speak at, I stood
before the people and spoke soberly to them that I had a fairly common
condition but one that is not often spoken about in our circles. I told
them that though it is a common condition not very many would
acknowledge or confess openly about having it, and that I wanted to come
forward and admit that I have been afflicted with this condition. You
see, Gottaleah is not a disease of the blood, nor is it a bacterial
disease that attacks the different portions of the body. It is a state
of mind which predominantly affects the majority of Christians life and
attitude and depending on how one deals with it is the result seen.
Let me give you a simple direct definition of what Gottaleah is.
Gottaleah is when a Christian has:
"Prayed for a Rachel but got a Leah" instead.
"Brother Jon, that's not a disorder!" But friends indeed it is. The
biblical narrative is found in Genesis 29. You should read this chapter
to be familiar with this story before going on. In this chapter, Jacob,
after he and his mother had swindled the patriarchal blessing from Esau,
was sent by his mother to his uncle Laban.
For two reasons:
1. For his life (Esau would have killed him).
2. For a wife from the family.
Jacob comes upon Laban's daughter Rachel and he see's that she is
beautiful to behold. Rachel's older and only sister Leah was not as
blessed in her appearance as Rachel was. Leah was a sore sight to the
eyes, she was not as fair as gorgeous and lovely looking Rachel. After
staying and working for his uncle for a month's time, Laban asks Jacob
what he'd like his wages to be. Jacob said he would work seven years
for Rachel to be given to him as his wife. Laban conceded to this and
thus Jacob began his seven years of labor for his bride to be. The
scriptures state that the years seemed as just a few days to Jacob, all
his labor, toil and sweat didn't seem like a whole lot in comparison to
the beautiful woman he was going to receive in the end.
It was customary to the people of that day to send the bridegroom after
the wedding feast into the wedding tent in the dark and to consummate
the marriage between the two. Little did Jacob know that Laban had,
instead of giving him Rachel, had given him "Leah". The next morning
the swindler realized he'd been swindled! Jacob had wanted a Rachel but
he got a Leah instead!
Further along in the story Jacob works an additional seven years for
Rachel and as we all know he finally gets the woman that he wanted.
But what a dilemma this was, if Leah had been a car she'd been branded a
lemon. I'm sure that Jacob was infuriated at this betrayal, this
seemingly deliberate breach of contract by his uncle. I thought it
interesting that the first seven years seemed as just a few days, but
there's no description of the second seven years mentioned. You almost
would have to assume that the last seven years were at least in part
grievous.
Have you ever prayed for something and though God had answered your
prayer it wasn't exactly what you were hoping for? If yes, then you too
have "prayed for a Rachel but got a Leah instead". Many sermons have
been preached on this love story between Jacob and Rachel, movies have
been made and books have been written. But I've yet to hear the full
story in virtually all of these. It has been "presumed" that the story
of Jacob and Rachel was a wonderful perfect love story with its tragic
and its glorious moments. However the story of Jacob and Rachel does
not conclude at her becoming his wife, far from it.
As the biblical account continues we find out that Rachel was jealous
and envious of her sister (30:1), idolatrous (31:19), lied to her father
and stole some of His goods as well as his gods (31:35) and though she
was loved by Jacob more than Leah it appears that she was a handful in
being competitive against her sister (30:8). At one point she demands
that Jacob impregnate her (30:1) and he becomes incensed at her.
Eventually Rachel does give birth to two sons.
However, one can't help but feel that Leah tried to win the love of
her husband (29:32). Leah was hated and despised of Rachel and looked
down upon by Jacob. In this biblical story there is no real reference to
state that Rachel truly loved Jacob. We only find statements concerning
his love for her and Leah's desire for Jacob to love her.
But God has a way of working all things together for good to them that
love Him and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). You
may pray for a Rachel but God may have a Leah in mind. You see Rachel
is your view of how God's will and way should be accomplished in your life. But the problem is, is that your Rachel will certainly look
beautiful to you but she will cause contention and strife, you will find
out that Rachel will make demands upon you that you just can't fulfill.
She will steal from you and not add to the measure of the Christ in you
When you have only the focus of the beautiful Rachel you lose sight of
what the weary-eyed but faithful and committed Leah can do for you. I
hope you know by now that I am not referring to polygamy nor marriage in
general but about your commitment to allow God to work in you His
perfect will. Rachel was beautiful but she was also a sore spot. Leah
was a "sore sight" but she produced ultimately greater than Rachel ever
did.
Leah gave birth to four children in contrast to Rachel's two. What is
all the more astonishing is that Leah gives birth to Judah. Judah is
the tribe from which the Lord Jesus Christ is descended from! Judah
also means "praise"! You may strive, work, hope, pray to get a Rachel
but God knows what is best for you and how to accomplish His will in
your life.
Don't despise the Leah in your life, Leah will produce praise and
salvation in you. She will be your deliverance if you will let her.
When you've prayed for a Rachel and you get a Leah, don't say, "Oh, no, not Leah!" Instead, find out the blessing in it, look for God's hand in it.
Don't rebuke the devil about your Leah, you'll find out that Leah is
God's hand at work in your life.
Finally on a last note, Rachel was buried on the way to Bethlehem having
died in giving birth. However it was Leah who was buried with the
fathers along with her husband Jacob. Friend your Rachel may seem more
graceful, and she may appear to be the brightest path to take but if God
intends for you to have a Leah, then give in to His work. You will find
that the increase is not so far away. Bury Rachel, she had some good
qualities (Joseph and Benjamin) but don't frustrate the purposes of God
in your attempt to birth the perfect will of God in your life. Leah
will in life and godliness double that which Rachel could only do in her
death partially.
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Reclaiming the Sacred : The Bible in Gay and Lesbian Culture Raymond-Jean Frontain
Carter Heyward, Ellen C. Davis (Editor) Elizabeth Stuart
Also In This Issue:
With Feeling
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