Author and respected Bible teacher Elizabeth George shares powerful truths about the women of God throughout A Girl After God’s Heart Bible, designed specially for girls between the ages of eight and twelve. Here’s what Elizabeth wants your daughter learn from the stories of Leah and Rachel from the Book of Genesis.
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LEAH – NOTICED BY GOD
Have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do? Has anyone ever ignored or rejected you or made you feel like you’re not very important?
Let’s take a look at the life of Leah, the unloved.
Leah knew suffering. She was even forced to marry Jacob…who loved her sister, Rachel! To make matters worse, Jacob married Rachel only one week after marrying Leah, and he loved Rachel more than he loved Leah (Genesis 29:30).
Unlike Jacob, God never ignores us or plays favorites. He loves all of us the same! He sees every part of your life, everything that hurts you, and everything that makes you sad.
God took notice of Leah’s situation: “The Lord saw that Leah was unloved.” And God did something about Leah’s condition: “He enabled her to have children” (Genesis 29:31).
When you go through hard times, remember the eyes of the Lord. Nothing that happens to you goes unnoticed by God. He sees and knows all that goes on in your life. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Disappointment and rejection are part of life, but God says, “Don’t be discouraged” (2 Chronicles 20:15). Let God’s love comfort you.
RACHEL – STAYING BUSY AND BEING FAITHFUL
Are you just starting to wonder a teeny, tiny bit about your future, including getting married someday?
Let’s see what we can learn from the beautiful Rachel. She met her future husband while faithfully taking care of her daily responsibilities at home and waiting on the Lord.
At the top of Rachel’s daily to-do list was one very important responsibility: watering her father’s sheep. One day, when Rachel was doing this task, she was surprised to see a strong, handsome stranger run to the well and begin to water her sheep. The man told Rachel that their families were related! That was the beginning of Jacob and Rachel’s courtship and marriage.
What is God’s plan for a young girl like you when it comes to your future? Here are two keys for you from Rachel’s experience:
Rachel was busy. She was where she was supposed to be—at the town well. And she was doing what she was supposed to be doing—watering her father’s sheep.
Rachel was faithful. As Rachel faithfully carried out her duties, God led her to her destiny—her marriage to Jacob. You don’t need to be concerned about boys and boyfriends for a while. Just continue living as a girl after God’s own heart and trust God’s plans. Stay busy and stay faithful. God will do the rest! Check It Out: Watering sheep was a young girl’s responsibility in Bible times.
You don’t need to be concerned about boys and boyfriends for a while. Just continue living as a girl after God’s own heart and trust God’s plans. Stay busy and stay faithful. God will do the rest!
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