Nov 25

Regarding the matter of praising God, it is interesting that Scripture records Leah, the wife of Jacob, as bearing her husband three sons. Each time, she named that son according to the circumstances in which she found herself, which was as the less loved of Jacob's two wives, Rachel being the other wife. So she tried to curry the favor of her husband by bearing him sons--a much more important matter in those days then now. She tried to win the praise of someone else, her husband, rather than seek to praise the Lord.

The first son she named Reuben, which sounds like the Hebrew for "he has seen my misery" (of being slighted by her husband).

The second son she named Simeon, which means one who hears -- which could be an expression of her desire for her husband to listen to her and notice that she had borne him yet another son. She was still trying to win his praise.

Then came her third son, whom she named Levi, which can be derived from the Hebrew word for attached -- perhaps, again, an expression of her desire to win praise from her husband and have him be attached to her as he should be in a marriage.

All three times, Leah sought to win praise from someone in her life who mattered to her, which is understandable and we can sympathize with her. But all the while, she should also have been seeking even more to win the praise of God.

Finally, with her fourth child, she seems to have seen the light. When this child was born, she finally quits seeking the praise of her husband and she says, "This time, I will praise the Lord" (Gen. 29:35).

How many times does God have to teach you and me the same lesson before we learn it? Whose praise are you seeking? Man's? or God's?

Scripture for today: Genesis 29:31-35
Thought for today: When I hurt, I should praise God, not seek the praise of men.
Prayer for today: I praise you, Lord. I praise you when things are going well and when they are not, for you are always worthy of my praise.

NOV 25