Genesis 29:16-35 KJV
16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Genesis 30:1-4 KJV
1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

Time is coming in our world in which we live that woman will rather wait to have children, because of events coming around the world, that must come to pass as recorded not only in scripture, but come with each pandemic, wars and disaster. Yet whether a woman is ready to give birth, when her time comes to deliver she bring forth a baby hopefully alive and well. Leah was a woman who was not love by her husband, no doubt she knew when Jacob discovered her identy, she knew he might even desire her at all. Yet her identy found out by morning the next day of her marriage to Jacob. Jacob went to Leah Father to find out why he had betrayed him by giving him the wrong daughter. Jacob would finish his week with Laban's first daughter to only marry his second daughter all because of the order in which daughters were to be married.

Now it always seemed to me in reading the story of Leah and Rachal there was a consistent battle of who was being blessed despite their husband love or unlove of them. Leah despite not being loved by Jacob was loved and blessed by God. Leah seem to have faith in God, despite her misery of feeling unloved and unaccept by her husband, for she felt blessed each time she had a son. Each time she would praise the Lord for new life was born from her womb. For some women that opposite might be said they did not feel blessed by God because they bore no children. They might feel God is angry or punishing them for some reason, if you read the next chapter you will see Rachel was a woman that was blaming God for her inability to conceive. She became angry like Sarah her great aunt, and she gave her maid to her husband to bear children for her. We got to remember Rachal was loved by her husband but her not conceiving made her envious of her sister and caused her to have words with her husband to the point, she even gave him her maid to bear children for her.

Blessing of having children can be wonderful, but the blessing of not having children can be equally as wonderful, depending on the desire for children. Yet to want them and not have them is a difficult psychological issue all together. Rachal would have two sons in time, but when giving birth to second son she would die and yet her baby son would live. Imagine though you waiting to conceive doing everything possible and still not conceiving. Some woman it just does not bother, others will it painful, an emotional struggle. Leah had another emotional struggle, knowing she was not even Jacob's choice, but now forced only into a marriage because of social laws. God still blessed her despite she was unloved and unwanted. Jacob perhaps over time love Leah, but she was known for being unloved. Perhaps with each birth of her sons, she understood the blessings of having children. Perhaps it was her protection and her survival. Maybe her only way to endure the loniless of feeling unloved by Jacob and envied by her sister. May just holding the baby alone gave her comfort from God's blessing. Every child born is a blessing from God. Leah praised the Lord for each of her children.

Parents out there and other family member when was the last time you praised God for new life in your family, for a new infant or children not of your own, but even adopted or maybe some how gained through foster or inheritance. When I figured because of health issues, I probably be better if I did not have a baby physically, it hurt for a time, but the joy of seeing each of my nieces and nephew born no matter which side of the family always brought me joy. Yet even so, the reality of not having children does not mean God does not bless you. I see life within our families still growing. That is a blessing. I talking about this because there other woman that go through that pain of never having children, but there also women out there feeling unloved but unloved by their mate and still conceive. There women who one night stand turned into a blessing, and others a nightmare. Teenagers out of wedlock that conceive before they have understood the reality of their decision can change their world, despite the fact schools taught them safe sex practice which they did. We live in a society where woman can be scorned for having children out of wedlock and not loved because of it. And there woman not thought less of because they have conceived without being married.

I wonder after thousands and thousand of years why are woman, despite what caused the conception have to ever feel unloved, and sometimes the father as well. For some families conception before marriage was and is a blessing to the union, for others it is a test to see if the man will step up to the plate for the woman has to if she carrying the baby to birth. She can not run from her pregnancy. So why in our world today is a woman shunned by some an loved by others. Perhaps it is the fact we allow society to rule the outcome of good an bad choices in life. Babies are blessings from God no matter how they come. Mother's are blessed to carry them and to know God still loves them in all situations that caused the conception of life. If I could stress that point to anyone, it would be to those that discourage life of the unborn, because of young mother out of wedlock, or mother going to be married, or one that never thought she would conceive for whatever reason. Leah need to know she was loved before she had a baby. She did have a sign her husband still came to her, for she would bear Jacob three sons Leah was given a sign from God of his love with her ability to have a baby. She would carry the heir that would give birth to King David and then Jesus. Rachel would give birth to a son that would be a ruler in Egypt, who had been sold into slavery. Her children not carrying the mark of promise, did have to do with Rachel idolatry perhap.

When we see the panaromic view of the situation, the offspring and the journey of each family, we can understand this struggle of hope, faith, and separation that continue happening in the world in which they lived. Jacob's choice not being God's choice to carry Emmanuel. Leah's Son Judah would carry the line of the Messiah. God's choice to rule in another land because their is faith in the family, but not without idolatry in the family was Joseph. Joseph was loyal to God as his Father Isaac was. We can not remove God's choices from the picture and say I want this one and not another. Both families had their roles to save Israel, one for a short period of time and another for eternity. Both women having important role of carrying the offspring of deliverance for Israel. If we look at the Jewish tribe and the tribe of Ishmael 12 sons, how does it play out in faith? Why do two groups of people fight over who carried Emmanuel. Perhaps it is because simply man has a hard time dealing with God's plan for different groups of people. Hindu people protected by Ghandi, yet Ghandi was not God. What is my point. Leaders rise to help the people but does not make them God's only begotten Son. God calls people to rise up and yet not all obey him. King Darius was called up by God to send Israel back to the promise land. Was he Idolater? We do not know the purpose God creates a human life or for the purpose in which they are here, but when it is time for a baby to be born, birth control will not stop conception. God knows their position in the world. Does not mean they will not be given a chance to know who he truly is. The testimony of God maybe right before some that will spiritually ignore the truth of the testimony of faith.

Every child is a blessing but not every blessing is a child of God by faith. We have to share that hope, and allow the Holy Spirit to convict the heart of every child, or adult when God approaches their heart. Let us remember to love those giving birth, to surround them with love and hope of the future that baby might bring to the world they will be living in soon enough. Let us thank God for each life given, that they will be the hope of future generations to come. Those of faith are called to be a witness and to help in the birthing process of the Spirit. What greater joy is there to know a lost soul got saved. What greater joy to know someone got born again by the Spirit of God. Just because you can have children by physical birth does not mean you are not helping with the spiritual birth of someone because of your testimony of God. After all nations would be blessed through Abraham's children, but how are they blessed through the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for babies, an children not always born from the family tree, but always borned to be loved and cherished as people of our world that need to discover who you and Christ is. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Galatians 3:6-9 KJV
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.