Parasha 28: From Rejection to Redemption

 

From Rejection to Redemption

-- T O R A H   P O R T I O N --

Introduction:

Have you ever felt unloved, unworthy, and not enough?

In the last parasha, Adonai YHVH told Jacob that He would be with him and keep him wherever he goes. He made it easy for Jacob to reach Haran through the shepherds he met, who knew his uncle Laban. He also met his cousin Rachel, and finally, he met Laban. During his stay there, he wanted Rachel to be his wife, so he served seven years for her. But Laban gave Leah first, as it was the custom of their place that the older daughter must get married before the younger. As a result, Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.

Our parasha introduces the condition of Leah as the unloved wife and how Adonai YHVH favored her. Leah being unloved does not mean she was abused by Jacob. Maybe his attention was more on Rachel. Since Adonai YHVH is an omnipresent God, He saw Leah’s condition. 

Because of this, Adonai favored her. How?

1. Her womb was opened (v. 31)

Despite being married to Jacob, who never liked or loved her, Adonai lovingly favored her by giving her four sons. Going back to the case of Sarah, she was childless (Gen. 16:1) and had passed the age of childbearing (Gen. 18:11). Also, Rebekah experienced being barren (Gen. 25:21), but because of Isaac’s plea to Adonai, Rebekah bore him twins. Barrenness was the greatest challenge that the Matriarchs faced—even Rachel, which is why she envied her sister Leah.

Notice the names she gave her sons. First, Reuben means “Notice,” because Adonai noticed her affliction. Second, Simeon means “Hears,” because Adonai heard that she was unloved by Jacob. Third, Levi means “Attached,” for she wanted her husband to be attached to her. Fourth, Judah means “Praise,” because she praised Adonai, considering this is the promised seed.

We can all relate to the names Leah gave her four children. We often think that Adonai is ignoring us, but suddenly He will hear our prayers, and then we praise Him.

2. Adonai listened to her (v. 17)

After having four sons, Leah stopped bearing. This time, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. The maid bore two sons: Gad, which means “A troop comes,” and Asher, which means “Blessedness or Happiness,” and she was happy. Now the competition was obvious between Leah and Rachel. They were racing to have as many sons as they could, and aside from using their maids, they wanted mandrakes (a plant from the Mediterranean with blue flowers during winter and turning yellow in summer, believed by many to promote fertility).

There was a trade as well: Rachel wanted the mandrakes and gave Jacob to Leah for one night. As a result, Adonai YHVH listened to Leah, and she bore Jacob a fifth and sixth son. She named them Issachar, which means “Reward,” and Zebulun, which means “Dwelling.” Adonai YHVH blessed Leah, who didn’t eat mandrakes but gave them away. The lesson is very obvious—magic is worthless compared to the power of Adonai YHVH over pregnancy.

What Can We Learn from Leah?

1. Focus on what we have
   Often, we have insecurities. We may wonder why we don’t have the blessings and opportunities someone else enjoys. When we begin comparing ourselves to others, we lose the chance of knowing who God created us to be. We forget that He has a wonderful plan and purpose for us according to our own talents and gifts. Leah focused on what she had—and that was giving Jacob children—while her sister Rachel had a hard time conceiving.

2. Focus on God and not on our trials
   After all, Leah could have been discouraged, or she could have blamed God or the people around her—especially her father Laban, because of what he did to Jacob. But Leah turned her focus to God and not her trials.
   Our life is like an athlete running on a race track. While running, we may hear people shouting or see things that can distract us from the finish line. However, if an athlete focuses only on the finish line, they will succeed. We should also focus on God and not on any obstacles.

Earlier, it was a struggle between brothers like Isaac and Ishmael, Esau and Jacob—but this time, it’s between sisters. The good thing is, these two matriarchs had an important role in fulfilling the promise of Adonai YHVH to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He used Leah and Rachel to give twelve sons to Jacob, and soon these twelve sons will become the twelve tribes of Israel. One of these tribes, the promised seed (YESHUA), will come.

Ruth 4:11–12

“All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, 'We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman.'”

Leah and Rachel both struggled. Leah was unloved, and Rachel was barren. And yet, Adonai YHVH was there to listen to and remember them.

Praise is the voice of the rejected who trust that Adonai is still writing their story.

Are you striving for validation from others? Let go of needing approval. Like Leah, shift your focus to praising Adonai in your present season. In doing so, you may birth something far greater than you expected—your legacy.

-- H A F T A R A H P O R T I O N --

In the Haftarah, the mercy of God continues for His people because:

1. Jerusalem will shift roles (v. 15)
   From being forsaken and hated to an eternal excellency and joy for all generations. To support this, let me share with you Jeremiah 33:9:
   “Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for My people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.”

2. Israel will know God as their LORD, Savior, and Redeemer (v. 16)
   In Jeremiah 31:34, the prophet told the children of Israel that soon they will all know the LORD, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For He will forgive their iniquity, and their sin He will remember no more.

3. Israel will be peaceful (v. 18)
   The chosen nation that has always been at war will finally be at peace.
   Zechariah 8:12–13:
   “For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of these people to inherit all these things. It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.”

What was once despised becomes a crown of glory when Adonai redeems the story.

Though Zion was forsaken and hated, Adonai promises everlasting joy and honor. He doesn't just restore—He transforms the pain of rejection into eternal beauty and value.

-- APOSTOLIC P O R T I O N --

In the Apostolic portion, Apostle Paul focused on two M’s. First, the Mystery—it’s about the blindness that happened to Israel. Although Adonai chose them as His people, Israel was blinded because of adultery and idolatry.

In Jeremiah 3:6 it says, “The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: ‘Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot.’” Even in Egypt, when they witnessed the ten plagues of Adonai, they were still a stiff-necked people.

In Romans 10:1–3, Paul said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” But because of the blindness of Israel, Adonai YHVH’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles as well (Acts 28:28).

The second M is the Mercy of Adonai. In Romans 9:24, Apostle Paul said, “Even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” And in verse 25, Paul used Hosea 2:23:

“I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, and I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they will say, ‘You are my God!’”

We can see here that Adonai YHVH has compassion for the Gentiles, and He included them to be part of the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:11–13).

Galatians 3:28

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah YESHUA.”

God weaves redemption through threads we cannot trace, yet each one reveals His mercy and majesty.

Paul unveils the mystery that even Israel’s partial hardening will lead to salvation for the nations—and ultimately, for all Israel. God’s plan, though complex, is rooted in His unsearchable wisdom and mercy.

All three portions reveal the mystery of God’s mercy at work in unexpected places. In the Torah, even though Leah was unloved, Adonai opened her womb and gave her four sons. Later, He listened to her and gave her another two sons because of His mercy. In the Haftarah, the condition of Israel as the chosen people of Adonai will be switched—from being forsaken and hated by nations to being forever exalted because of His mercy. In the Apostolic, Adonai has committed all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

Through this connection, we are reminded that God’s timing and plans are perfect. What seems like rejection or forsakenness is often the soil in which God’s redemptive power grows, ultimately leading to restoration and the fulfillment of His promises.

Returning to my introduction… Even if we feel unloved, unworthy, and not enough, Adonai YHVH is always there to show His love and mercy to us. He can see our afflictions. One day, He will look and remember us like what He did to Leah and Rachel. YESHUA was also unloved and rejected among men, but He overcame it—and so will we.

When the world sees rejection, Adonai sees redemption—He lifts the forgotten, remembers the barren, and turns affliction into a legacy of blessing.

Instead of comparing yourself to others, choose to focus on what Adonai has already placed in your hands—your talents, your calling, your relationships. Praise Him daily for what you have, and trust that He sees what others don’t. Let your testimony be proof that His mercy rewrites every story of rejection into one of redemption.

Shabbat Shalom,

Topher

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-- S O U R C E S --

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torah.org