Lots of women-themed thoughts in my head.
I was thinking about how desperation can lead to devotion, then retraced where I learned that.
You won’t be surprised it was in a Beth Moore study.
The Patriarchs, to be specific.
Try not to act shocked.
Here it is:
[The chapter is Genesis 29:31-30:24 where in rapid-fire succession we witness the baby battle between two sisters and two maidservants.]
“Take a deep breath because you’re going to need it. I can’t think of an intellectual way to frame today’s lesson. Some things are not intellectual. They are not necessarily even rational. They are red-hot emotional. We’re big girls. We can handle this, so let’s get to it.
When studying an ancient biblical narrative involving such different cultural practices, we might first be tempted to think we can’t relate. After all, hopefully none of us share a husband with another wife and two maidservants! Women are women, however, regardless of the era; therefore, we can relate to Leah and Rachel.
[She has us fill in a chart of the child’s name, mother, coinciding statement and who made that statement in the order the children’s births were listed in Genesis. Very good visual lesson.]
Leah and Rachel had more than a husband in common. They shared a complete desperation and certainty that getting something they lacked would complete them and make them happy. That’s why we can relate.
What did Leah lack?
[Husband’s love and affection]
What did Rachel lack?
[ability to conceive a child]
Beloved, with the love and compassion of a woman right next to you, may I ask you what you feel you most lack?
[Uh uh. Ain’t no way I’m sharing publicly. :)]
Does this lack ever make you feel somewhat desperate?
[Mind your own business!]
You can hear Leah’s heart as she journeyed through a host of painful emotions in the explanations she gave for her son’s names. You can literally hear her processing through emotional stages.
Reuben —- “Surely my husband will love me now”
Simeon —– “Because I’m not loved God gave me him”
Levi ——- “At last he will become attached to me”
Judah —— “This time I will praise the LORD”
The human psyche requires love for wholeness. We are all desperate for love, but in some seasons of our lives we become convinced we must have a certain person’s love to be complete. This person doesn’t have to be a spouse or romantic interest. He or she could be a parent, relative, neighbor, church member, mentor or peer.
I have painful memories of desperation for my peers to love and accept me. I was (often unfortunately) able to get the guy, but I was desperate for real and trusting female friendships. My desperation finally became the life-gift that led me to a passionate relationship with Jesus.
The name Judah means praise. Leah finally – if temporarily – progressed to a place where God became the only sense in a senseless spiral, and she gave Him praise.
Beloved, let’s allow God to show us our deepest desperation is for Him. The troubled child of desperation is obsession. The healthy child of desperation is devotion.
Our desperation will birth something. What will it be?”