The Power of Love II - a tale of two sisters

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her

בראשית 29:20

Once upon a time there was a sojourner or rather...a fugitive called Jacob. He had lived in a wealthy but dysfunctional family. He was wanted for his crime against his twin brother - accused for stealing his twin's birthright through some scheming ways administered by his mom - for his twin was born first. Back then, being the eldest son in a rich family had a super privilege that others could only envy...

Once upon a time there were two sisters - Leah and Rachel - born of distant relative of Jacob. And one is more beautiful than another...

And so, one day their paths of life crossed and the love story began...

The younger one - Rachel - had sparkling magical eyes that enlightened the depths of Jacob's soul. Rachel's eyes enchanted him, her smile intoxicated him, her voice caressed his ears and her dances filled his dreams...

And even though seven years of labor were required to win the love of his heart - he passed them like a few days. Whenever he was tired on the field, all he needed was to close his eyes and see her - and suddenly he would find the strength to go on...

See - How great the power of love is... How inexplicable...How indescribable...How unsearchable...and How unstoppable...

At last, the banquet was held after seven full years. Jacob was rapturously delightful - looking forward to the most anticipated time of his life - the wedding night. Nevertheless, when the morning came - he was up to find the most unexpected event of his life. The woman laid with him the night before was Leah...the unattractive one...*

The cheater was cheated...by the father in law. He was told that it was not appropriate to marry the younger one first - hence the swap. And to marry the younger one - he must work for another seven years...

Once again - love empowered Jacob to endure another seven years for the hand of Rachel...

But...what about Leah?

She was considered a mistake...a reject by her husband in name. She was there only to satisfy his hormonal rush. She was hurt, broken, lonely and forgotten...

Wait!...Forgotten? Not quite... The Master of destiny had not forgotten about her.

And when the Master saw that Leah was despised, He made her able to bear children, but Rachel was barren

בראשית 29:31

Oh...oh...look at that. The Master of destiny was tipping the balance of 'fairness'. One was unloved, another was loved. Being barren was considered as accursed. So He was 'blessing' the unloved one and 'cursing' the loved one.**

And so the race of winning Jacob's heart began. Leah kept on having children, Rachel did not. And if you look at the names of Leah's sons, you would see the obvious intent that both women were indeed in a race.

Reuben - See, a son. For the Master has seen my humiliation and affliction
Simeon - The Master hears. For the Master has heard that I am despised
Levi - Companion. Now my husband will accompany me even more
Judah - Praise. Now will I praise the Master
...

And the plot thickens. Rachel was angry and gave Jacob her maid servant so that she could bore children in Rachel's name and Leah did so too once she too stopped having children.

Imagine the pain Leah had gone through - knowing that the face in her man's mind was not her while he was on top of her, looking out through the window and saw him caressing her sister on the field, drifting through the lonely nights while he was with her sister, anxiously hoping that he would not change his mind on where to spend the night when her turn came, trying her best to serve him without getting the expected appreciation...all because she was the unwanted one...all because his heart was still toward Rachel.

Time passed by...

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath...

בראשית 35:29

Fast forward further more...

And finally while Jacob was drawing his last breath...he charged his beloved son - Bury me with my fathers in the cave that was bought by my grandfather...where they were buried with their wives...where I buried Leah...

בראשית 49:29-31

I would call this a happy ending for Leah. Finally her man chose to be buried with her. Finally her man accepted her. Finally his heart was won. Finally...

And if you could ask Leah...was it worth it? I bet she would get out of the grave and scream "YES" on top of her lungs...

The same power that made Jacob endured 14 years of labor - had empowered Leah to endure even many times longer of emotional anguish.

I can't help but repeating these words again:

How great the power of love is... How inexplicable...How indescribable...How unsearchable...and How unstoppable...

Thus the love story ended...

...but love never ends...

...so let us create our own story...while we are not ended...

love never fails...

* Please understand that electricity was invented many many years later after the time of the story. Also maybe spending the wedding night in the dark was more romantic according to the custom at that time. Either way, the author never recommends sleeping with anyone in complete darkness - you never know whom you sleep with

** Later on He tipped the balance again by enabling Rachel to conceive