Jacob did not wait long. As soon as he came to the land of his relatives he found Rachel. Rachel was beautiful but Leah, her sister, was plain and unattractive—due, apparently, to the appearance of her eyes.

The disciple of Jesus develops weak eyes for the world, strong eyes for what is of God.

Jacob served Laban for seven years in payment for the hand of Rachel. On his wedding night he was given Leah. One week later Jacob received Rachel.

The Lord has ways of attracting us to Himself. But along with the joy there must be pain; for it is pain (crucifixion) that removes what is in us that is not of God.

The addition of Leah to the promised Rachel happens to every true saint. Every one of God's elect must have both his Leah and his Rachel.

Leah symbolizes the part of our salvation that is painful to us. Leah was not attractive. Leah's qualities were not obvious from an earthly standpoint. But whoever would have the beautiful Rachel must receive Leah also.

The vision of joy, of "Rachel," moves us to press on and on. The "book" of the Lord's calling is sweet in our mouth but in our belly it is bitter. It is Leah (Revelation 10:10).

Although Jacob was a schemer he did have integrity. He did not divorce Leah. Leah remained Jacob's wife until she died. Jacob buried Leah in the cave of Machpelah in the land of Canaan, the burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah—of Jacob himself.

In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. (Genesis 49:30,31)

For his [Jacob's] sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. (Genesis 50:13)

Numerous Christians of our day lack integrity. People have become lovers of themselves. When any thing or circumstance displeases them they get rid of it, even though they must breach their honor in order to do so. They will not accept the bitter with the sweet.

Many believers, including some ministers, have put Leah out of their life. By so doing they have put rulership with Christ out of their future. They may be saved into God's Kingdom when the Lord returns but they will not govern with Christ.

The person of integrity will suffer any pain rather than betray a trust. The person lacking integrity will betray any trust rather than suffer pain. The person lacking integrity can never make a success of the Christian discipleship.

To be continued.