This may seem like a very strange choice of woman to write about, but there is something very special about her and she so reminds me of many other women like her in our society.
Zilpah was the concubine that was given Jacob when Leah thought her childbearing days were over.
It is noticable that The Bible does not mention how Zilpah felt about being "handed over" as a concubine, but there is one amazing thing that we do know about her, she named her first son Gad. Now Gad means good fortune or "a troop". From this it appears that her outlook is positive even though her lot must have been precarious and difficult.
It appears that Zilpah really delighted in her children, we can assume this because she named her second son Asher which means "happy". In amongst her joy there were many marital contentious issues which brought a lot of sorrow.
My heart was saddened when I read that when Jacob returned to his homeland it was Zilpah and Bilhah (also a concubine of Jacob) who were put in the front of the caravan. These women were just not loved.
Like Zilpah so many of us lead imperfect lives. The challenge that this woman offers us accross the pages of The Bible is to check what we focus on, the negative aspects of our lives or do we rejoice in the gifts, like our children, the blessings that Jesus sends our way.
What are you going to choose today, are you going to live a life of being joyous and grateful or a life of complaining? Which one will make you happy?
Remember Jesus and I love you
Hugs
Sharmaine
2 comments:
This is a very sweet story thank you. Its has reminded me to be grateful and thankful
Hi Sharmaine,
I was reading the scriptures and saw this
You have written that Zilpah was glad and happy when her sons were born but from I read it was Leah who named the babies and it was she who was glad and happy. Is this correct?
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, "What good fortune!" So she named him Gad.
12 Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.13 Then Leah said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." So she named him Asher.
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