LOVE

The genealogy of Jesus is love on display. The inclusion of women in the Matthew 1 record demonstrates God’s heart for all people, specifically those marginalized and oppressed. In total, 5 women are mentioned by name - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah’s wife (Bathsheba), and Mary. Not every woman mentioned had the background from which you would think the King of Kings would be born. Tamar posed as a prostitute and slept with her father-in-law. Rahab was a prostitute. And we all know of King David’s indiscretions with Bathsheba.

Although not listed specifically by name, Leah, as the mother of Judah, is in the genealogy of Jesus. “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers” (Matthew 1:1-2).

Leah’s story reveals God’s love, kindness, and tender care.

Judah was the fourth born son of Jacob and Leah. As you may or may not remember, Leah was the unloved wife of Jacob. Jacob was in love with Leah’s baby sister, Rachel. He had worked seven years to earn the hand of Rachel. However, Rachel’s father did not keep his word and gave him Leah instead.

Scripture describes Leah with “weak eyes” and Rachel as “beautiful” with a “lovely figure” (Genesis 29:17). This descriptive comparison sounds like the scene from A League of Their Own where they are introducing all the attractive players up close and then pan out to show “Marla Hooch, what a hitter!”.

Scripture tells us “the Lord saw that Leah was not loved”.  “He enabled her to conceive” four times while “Rachel remained childless”. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son whom she named Reuben “‘it is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now’. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, ‘Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.’ So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, ‘Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.’ So he was named Levi. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, ‘This time I will praise the Lord.’ So she named him Judah.” (Genesis 29:31-35)

It took four children for Leah to realize her worth, identity, satisfaction, and joy came from God. Finally, she stopped looking to be fulfilled by her relationship with her husband. Judah’s name signified Leah’s newfound understanding of who God is.

It is from the line of Judah to which our Savior was born. Unloved, unwanted Leah is a many times great-grandmother of the Messiah. Her presence, as the mother of Judah, in the genealogy of Jesus is intentional. It is an exhibit of his love for us. Jesus was born from and for the unloved, unfavored, and unwanted. Further still, it was not her first, second, or third born son from which the Messiah was born. It is from the 4^th son in a society which held the firstborn son in the highest esteem. Even more significant, Judah is the son in which Leah stopped striving. The son in which she realized God was the source of all she needed. He is the son with whom she decided to trust God to satisfy all her needs.

We serve a good God who lovingly and intentionally designed every detail of his restorative plan to communicate his love to us. Every one of his actions is kind and loving. Everything he does is for our collective good. There is nothing of his control. He is the source of all we need. He is the one whom we can trust to satisfy all our needs. He is love (1 John 4:8).

Just as God “saw” Leah, he sees you.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26

1 John 4:8