The Sequence to Success: Three O’s of LifeSýnishorn

Observations Can Launch Destinies

Others’ observations of us can be launching pads that propel us to places we never imagined we could go. God has put people in our lives—perhaps people we wouldn’t have expected—to observe us, form opinions of us, and open doors of opportunity for us. The Scriptures tell us clearly and often that God observes absolutely everything in the universe, including us. We call this trait omniscience. 

One of the most poignant passages in the Old Testament is found in Genesis 29 when Laban tricked Jacob into marrying both of his daughters, the gorgeous Rachel and the plain Leah. It was painfully obvious to Leah that her husband preferred the other woman, her sister. She longed to win Jacob’s affection by providing sons for him. When she had her first child, Reuben, Leah said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now” (verse 32). The Lord saw the pain of her loneliness…but Jacob still didn’t love her. Leah had a second son, Simeon, and said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too” (verse 33). But that didn’t win Jacob over either. Then Leah had a third son, Levi, and she hoped this would do it: “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons” (verse 34). In that culture, a woman who gave her husband three sons was a hero! She would win the respect and admiration of everyone in the community, especially her husband. 

Leah was sure God had seen the fact that she was unloved; He had heard her pleas for Jacob’s affection and she hoped he would finally be attached to her. But even after Leah gave him three sons, Jacob still only had eyes for Rachel. 

Then, something happened in Leah’s heart. She realized that God’s attention was more important than any man’s, including her husband’s. She had a fourth son, Judah, and this time, her prayer changed from desperation to contentment: “This time I will praise the Lord” (Genesis 29: 35). The fact that God—the Lord of love, peace, and strength—saw her was enough for Leah. Jacob didn’t see her—but God did and He blessed her abundantly. It was through the line of Judah that He sent his Son to save the world.