Genesis 29:31 – 30:22

Most of our life revolves around relationships. Relationships can be the source of great joy, and of great sorrow. This is especially true about the relationships between family members. Our family often defines who we are and how we view ourselves. The relationship between a husband and wife is the foundation upon which all other family relationships are built.

Men and women both want to be loved by their spouse. Leah wanted to be loved by Jacob. Jacob loved Leah less than he loved Rachel. This hurt Leah, and she hoped having a son would cause him to love her more. This was not the result. Pregnancy is seldom the solution to an unhappy marriage. After the birth of her third child, Leah said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Jacob loved his sons, but they did not change the way he felt about his wives.

Leah’s sons did change the way her sister Rachel felt about her. Rachel became jealous. Jacob loved Rachel, but in her jealousy his love was not enough to keep her happy. In the end both women began to treat Jacob as if he were a commodity to be traded. Both sought advantage through their sons over each other and over Jacob. The fractured relationships between the adults in the family would later manifest in the behavior of the children. It should not be surprising that children raised in a broken home get broken.

It is God’s intention that marriage be the foundation of society. When society actively works to undermine the institution of marriage, it is actively undermining itself. As God’s children we cannot allow society to shape our standards. Regardless of the stance taken by society, we must remain righteousness. We must work and maintain godly relationships in our families. A godly marriage is a great blessing. It is a blessing to those within it, and to the society it is within.