Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, who has set us apart with His commandments and has commanded us to engross ourselves in the words of Torah. Please, YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Torah in our mouth and in the mouths of Your people, the family of Israel. May we and our offspring and the offspring of Your people, the house of Israel – all of us – know Your Name and study Your Torah for its own sake. Blessed are You, YHVH, who teaches Torah to His people Israel.
וירא יהוה
‘’and YHVH saw…”
Jacob's Children
Gen 29:31 And יהוה
saw that Lě’ah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Raḥěl was barren.
‘’We really don’t know the full reason why Leah
was unloved (much speculation) and the Torah doesn’t tell us. It simply states
the fact: YHVH saw that Leah was unloved and He opened her womb.
‘’That silence is deliberate. It leaves us to wonder, to
feel the weight, and to recognize that YHVH’s mercy often operates in places
human judgment never reaches. Maybe Leah carried a hidden sorrow no one else
perceived. Maybe her prayers were fiercer than anyone knew. Maybe YHVH simply
chose to honour the one who was structurally disadvantaged in that polygynous
household - the elder sister who was “given” rather than chosen.’’
We can only speculate without knowing the real reason.
And that speculation itself can be an act of respect for her pain, refusing to
reduce Leah’s story to moral categories (did she sin? did she deserve it, was
she trying to avoid a possible arranged marriage with Esau?) and instead
letting YHVH’s compassionate “seeing” stand as the explanation. וירא יהוה
So yes, maybe YHVH saw what no one else saw. And maybe
that’s enough. Maybe that’s the whole point of the verse.’’
Gen 29:17 says Leah's eyes were weak - maybe she didn’t
fully know or understand why she was suffering.
The sages (especially in Genesis Rabbah 70:17, Tanhuma
Vayetze 4, and Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer 36) explain that Leah’s eyes were “weak”
because she wept constantly.
The sages say YHVH saw those hidden tears — tears no one
else knew about — and rewarded her with fertility. Her womb is opened precisely
because YHVH saw the affliction behind those weak eyes.
‘’The Torah doesn’t explain Leah’s inner world beyond
that one verse. It leaves the “why” open, perhaps deliberately — so we feel the
weight of YHVH’s compassionate gaze filling the silence.’’
That’s why Gen 29:31 is so powerful: וַיַּרְא יְהוָה — “And YHVH saw…” He
saw what Jacob didn’t fully see. (what you and I do not yet fully see) He saw
what Leah herself may not have fully understood about her own suffering. And He
responded, not with explanation, but with life (He opened her womb).
Leah’s pain was deeper and older than anyone around her
realized. And YHVH’s response was to meet her in that hidden place.
If you meditate on this long enough, it becomes one of
the most comforting verses in the Torah: ‘’Even when no one else understands
why you’re suffering, even when you don’t fully understand YHVH sees
- וירא
יהוה’’
And He is still the Elohim who opens wombs, who turns
tears into legacy, who chooses the overlooked.
וירא
יהוה – YHVH also saw the coming into
being of the family of Jacob - Amo 3:2 “You alone have I known (Heb ‘’yada’’) of all the clans
of the earth, therefore I punish you for all your crookednesses.” ‘’Yada’’
carries ‘’ intimate covenantal significance’’ Gen
4:1 And
Adam knew (yada) Eve his wife; and she conceived. (See also Ex 4:22)
YHVH chose one family (Jacob’s descendants) to be the
root and trunk of the covenant tree, but He never intended the branches to be limited.
He designed the tree so that all the families of the earth could be grafted in
and blessed through it.
Rom11:11-24
Paul warns that both natural and wild branches can be broken off through
unbelief – However YHVH is able to graft any broken branch (wild or natural)
back into the tree.
Rom
11:33 Oh, the depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of Elohim! How
unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!
Rom
11:34 “For who has known the mind of יהוה? Or who has become His
counsellor?” Isa_40:13.
Rom
11:35 “Or who first gave to Him, and it shall be given back to him?”
Job_35:7, Job_41:11.
Rom
11:36 Because of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all, to whom be
esteem forever. Aměn.
Let us
return back to opening phrase the scribe used to introduce this Torah portion -
וַיַּרְא יְהוָה
We may not be certain as to what YHVH saw what caused
Leah to be unloved -However we have been given volumes and volumes of evidence
as to what YHVH saw and revealed to us about His chosen family - Jacob. From
cover to cover in our scriptures the central narrative revolves around this
family and their redemptive calling – their successes and failures –
Every generation of this family has been seen in its
brokenness - and kept because of the covenant that rests not on their
perfection but on YHVH’s name and faithfulness
That calling will never be revoked, even when the family
fails spectacularly. It is the thread that makes the Scriptures one coherent
story:
Rom
11:29 For YHVH's
gifts and calling never change.
A
messianic Torah teacher attempting to explain the complexity and beauty of this
family used a modern day parable by comparing Jacob’s family to a giant jigsaw
puzzle.
Imagine
joining a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle together that creates a beautiful scene of a
rain forest full of wild animals and mountain streams.
Where
does one start? Normally you collect the four corner pieces and then begin to
search for the uniquely shaped puzzle pieces and join them together to complete
the puzzle.
Now,
let us imagine creating a family portrait of Jacobs family which will take at
least 1000 years to complete. The pieces of this puzzle have been ‘’lying
around’’ for the last few thousand years, some are still being ‘’uniquely shaped’’
and if somehow YHVH guides you to walk in the righteousness of the truth– you will
begin to put together the pieces of the ‘’puzzle’’. Remember וַיַּרְא יְהוָה YHVH has already seen
the whole picture –
1Co
2:9 But as it has been written, “Eye has not seen, and ear has not
heard, nor have entered into the heart of man what Elohim has prepared for
those who love Him.” Isa_64:4.
1Co
2:10 But Elohim has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the
Spirit searches all matters, even the depths of Elohim.
The
first ‘’corner piece’’ of this puzzle is found in this week’s Torah portion: It is about
Jacob and his 4 wives bringing 12 sons and one daughter into the world.
The
second ‘’corner piece’’ of the puzzle is found in Gen 49 – its about Jacob on his death bed proclaiming
to his sons what would ‘’call’’ or ‘’come upon’’ them in the last days.
The
third ‘’corner piece’’ is found in Deut 33 and is about Moses blessing Jacobs family before
they enter the promised land – millennial kingdom.
The
fourth ‘’corner piece’’ of the puzzle is about the challenges (victories and defeats) this
family will face in this world until they are eventually presented to YHVH by
the Messiah without ‘’spot or wrinkle’’ These pieces of the ‘’puzzle’’ are
found on every page of our Scriptures.
The
first ‘’corner’’ puzzle piece – the formation of Jacobs family:
Gen 29:32 And Lě’ah conceived and bore a son, and
she called his name Re’uḇěn,
for she said, “For יהוה has looked (ראה יהוה) on my affliction,
because now my husband is going to love me.”
Leah believes that because YHVH has seen her
affliction, He has given her a son -Reuben – which means ‘’see a son’’ now Leah
believes her husband will love her.
Gen 29:33 And she conceived again and bore a son,
and said, “Because יהוה has heard that I am unloved, He gave me
this son too.” And she called his name ‘’Shim‛on’’
This name comes from the well-known Hebrew verb ‘’shema’’
or to hear. When one adds a ‘’nun sufit’’ to a verb, it intensifies the verb. ‘’To
listen’’ becomes to ‘’truly listen’’
Now Leah believes YHVH has ‘’truly’’ heard her
plea, Jacob will now love her for sure.
Gen 29:34 And she conceived again and bore a son,
and said, “Now this time my husband is joined to me, because I have borne him
three sons.” So his name was called Lěwi.
‘’Levi’’ means to ‘’join’’ now, Leah is convinced the
YHVH has seen her and heard her and now is certain Jacob will be ‘’joined’’ to
her -but the narrative suggests the deeper relational change did not yet occur.
Gen 29:35 And she conceived again and bore a son,
and said, “Now I praise יהוה.” So, she called his name Yehuḏah. And she ceased
bearing.
For the first time in the narrative of her sons’ births, Leah’s
attention turns fully to YHVH rather than to Jacob – she is not trying to win Jacob’s
favour – she is now praising YHVH because there was something very special
about Judah. This son is significant because it is from his tribe that Messiah
would come – and the motivation of Messiah’s entire existence was to give all
praise and honour to his Father alone – the Giver of all life – including his
own.
Joh
5:30 “… I do not seek My own desire, but the desire of the Father who
sent Me.’’
Gen 30:1 And when Raḥěl
saw that she bore Ya‛aqoḇ
no children, Raḥěl envied
her sister, and said to Ya‛aqoḇ,
“Give me children, or else I am going to die!”
Gen 30:2 And Ya‛aqoḇ’s
displeasure burned against Raḥěl,
and he said, “Am I in the place of Elohim, who has withheld from you the fruit
of the womb?” (It’s like Jacob was saying ‘’Do you think I understand what’s
going on here?)
Why was Rachel barren? Answer: We also don’t know - this
part of the puzzle is not yet available. One day we will see more clearly how Rachel’s
bareness was a very important part of YHVH’s covenantal plan to redeem mankind.
It becomes a very important piece of the puzzle required to see the whole
picture. (the life of Joseph is a very important hint)
Gen 30:3 And she said, “See, my female servant
Bilhah; go in to her, and let her bear for me, and let me be built up from her
as well.”
This reaction from Rachel may be seen as trying to ‘’help
YHVH out’’ but once again it forms a perfect piece of the puzzle, which is yet
to be revealed. This was no mistake it was part of YHVH’s perfect plan for this
family.
Gen 30:4 So she gave him Bilhah her female servant
as wife, and Ya‛aqoḇ went
in to her.
Gen 30:5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Ya‛aqoḇ a son.
Gen 30:6 And Raḥěl
said, “Elohim has rightly ruled my case, and has also heard my voice and given
me a son.” So she called his name Dan. (Judges)
Judges 13:5 “He shall begin to deliver Israel
out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Samson from the tribe of Dan)
There is also a very interesting prophetic detail in
Genesis 49:17 about Dan will ‘’become a serpent on the way’’
Some later interpreters saw the serpent image as hinting
at some serious future trouble from Dan.
Reasons include:
The tribe of Dan later became associated with idolatry
(Judges 18).
1 Kings 12:29–30 – Jeroboam places a golden
calf at Dan, making it a centre of false worship in the northern kingdom.
Some early Christian writers (for example,
Irenaeus and Hippolytus) speculated that the Antichrist might arise from the
tribe of Dan.
So, this piece of the puzzle is not completely clear, but
we are given several helpful hints to help identify the nature of this tribe.
Genesis 49:16 (Jacob’s blessing): “Dan shall judge his
people as one of the tribes of Israel.”
Gen 30:7 And Raḥěl’s
female servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Ya‛aqoḇ a second son.
Gen 30:8 And Raḥěl
said, “With great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and I have
overcome.” So she called his name Naphtali.
This is a serious part of Isreal’s DNA - The wrestling
which was and will remain central to the formation of Israel -The name Israel
itself means “he strives/wrestles with YHVH” (Gen 32:28). Jacob’s entire life
is marked by struggle — with Esau, with Laban, with his own character, and
ultimately with YHVH at the Jabbok. The family drama in Gen 29–30 is the first
generation of that same wrestling:
·
Leah wrestles for love and recognition.
·
Rachel wrestles for children and dignity.
·
The handmaids are pulled into the struggle. Out
of this painful competition come twelve sons - the future tribes of
Israel.
YHVH allows the wrestling because the nation of Israel
is born from struggle, not from perfection. The twelve tribes are not the
product of harmony; they are the product of divine grace working through
human pain. This part of our divine calling.
Rachel’s words reflect a deeper spiritual reality
When Rachel says “naftulei Elohim niftalti” (“wrestlings of Elohim I
have wrestled”), she is doing something profound:
·
She attributes the struggle to YHVH -“wrestlings
of YHVH.”
·
She claims a kind of victory: “gam-yacholti”-
“I have prevailed / I have been able.” This echoes Jacob’s own later wrestling
at Peniel: he wrestles with a man (understood as Elohim/an messengerl) and
prevails (yachol) to receive the blessing and the name Israel.
Rachel is not wrong to see her barrenness and rivalry as
a form of divine wrestling. She is part of the same covenant struggle
that defines her husband and her descendants.
7 times to the 7 assemblies in Revelation Yahshua says ‘’
to him who overcomes’’ – if you are not continually involved in the appointed
wrestling match with YHVH – you may have to question how authentic your
relationship is with YHVH.
Gen 30:9 And Lě’ah saw that she had ceased bearing,
and she took Zilpah her female servant and gave her to Ya‛aqoḇ as wife.
Gen 30:10 And Lě’ah’s female servant Zilpah bore
Ya‛aqoḇ a son.
Gen 30:11 And Lě’ah said, “Fortune comes!” So she
called his name Gaḏ. (Gaḏ, meaning fortune.)
Gad reminds us that the destiny of Jacobs family is
to bring blessing beyond what anyone could ever imagine.
Gen 30:12 And Lě’ah’s female servant Zilpah bore
Ya‛aqoḇ a second
son.
Gen 30:13 And Lě’ah said, “I am happy, for the
daughters shall call me happy.” So she called his name Ashěr.a Footnote: aHeb.
Ashěr, meaning happy.
Asher is more correctly interpreted as ‘’contentment’’
this too is the inheritance and legacy to all nations through and in Jacobs
family.
Gen 30:14 And Re’uḇěn
went in the days of wheat harvest and found love-apples in the field, and
brought them to his mother Lě’ah. And Raḥěl
said to Lě’ah, “Please give me some of your son’s love-apples.”
Gen 30:15 But she said to her, “Is it a small
matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s
love-apples too?” And Raḥěl
said, “Therefore let him lie with you tonight for your son’s
love-apples.”
Gen 30:16 And when Ya‛aqoḇ came out of the field in the evening, Lě’ah went
out to meet him and said, “Do come in to me, for indeed, I have hired you with
my son’s love-apples.” And he lay with her that night.
Gen 30:17 And Elohim listened to Lě’ah, and she
conceived and bore Ya‛aqoḇ
a fifth son.
Gen 30:18 And Lě’ah said, “Elohim has given me my
hire, because I have given my female servant to my husband.” So she called his
name Yissasḵar.
The love apples were indeed seen as
aphrodisiacs/fertility aids — Rachel wanted them to help her conceive. Leah used them to “hire” Jacob for a
night.
This speaks to a desperately painful situation and is
equally difficult and painful to understand and explain.
Gen 30:19 And Lě’ah conceived again and bore Ya‛aqoḇ a sixth son.
Gen 30:20 And Lě’ah said, “Elohim has presented me
with a good present. Now my husband is going to dwell with me, because I have
borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zeḇulun.
The root meaning of ‘’Zevulon’’ is ‘’zaval’’ to cohabit
or to live very closely with someone. This too is a prophetic reminder that one
day this family will live together with one another and the world in harmony
and peace.
Gen 30:21 And afterward she bore a daughter and
called her name Dinah.
Dinah comes from the Hebrew word meaning justice and
strife – this too was evident in her life at Schechem.
What makes this parable/picture of Jacobs family more
profound is that you and I are part of this puzzle -we are all uniquely shaped
to fit into a uniquely prepared place.
The mothers play a central role in the beginning of the
creation of this family many believe they will play a central role once again
in the healing and restoration of this family in the future again.
Jacob is saying: “These jagged pieces will only make
sense when viewed through the lens of the last days.” The full picture is
eschatological. Gen 49
Moses’ Blessing (Deuteronomy 33) Moses, just before he
dies, does something remarkable — he re-assembles the same twelve pieces with a
new layer of blessing and destiny:
Isaiah 8 describes the house of Jacob (the very same
family) in a state of internal fracture:
Two houses of Israel (Judah + Ephraim/Israel) are divided
and stumbling over the same “stone” (8:14).
The people are turning to mediums and wizards instead of
the Torah and the testimony (8:19–20).
Darkness, distress, and “thick darkness” cover the land
(8:22).
Yet right in the middle, Isaiah declares hope:
“I and the children whom YHVH has given me are for signs
and wonders in Israel” (8:18).
Isaiah is saying: The puzzle pieces are still clashing.
chafing The family is broken, divided, and spiritually blind — exactly as it
began in Genesis 29–30. But the same YHVH who saw Leah’s hidden tears is still
watching. The Torah and the testimony (the witness) remain the only light.
Blessed
are you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of
truth and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH
giver of the Torah –