The Burdens of High Office
Jimmy wanted in. He was young, ambitious, and utterly convinced of his own talents. Joining this esteemed body became his mission.
There was, however, one problem: the community did not share his enthusiasm.
But Jimmy was not one to let a little thing like public opinion stand in his way. He found a sympathetic ear in a state official, the kind who appreciated a well-placed favor. An envelope changed hands. A recommendation was written. Suddenly, Jimmy was no longer an outsider—he was, on paper at least, a duly appointed leader of the Jewish community.
There was just one small hitch.
At that very moment, the town was in turmoil. A scandal had erupted, and fingers were pointing in every direction. The mayor, exercising his usual level of discretion, decided to arrest the entire Jewish committee until things were sorted out.
Blissfully unaware, Jimmy marched into the mayor’s office, letter in hand, and presented it with a triumphant flourish. The mayor read it, glanced at Jimmy, and gave him a bemused smile.
“No problem,” he said. “You may take the place of one of the other leaders.”
And with that, the police escorted Jimmy straight to the town jail—where a newly freed committee member tipped his hat and strolled home.
Who Was the Matriarch?
The Torah states, “God saw that Leah was not loved, so He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren” (Gen. 29:31). A curious phrasing. What does Leah’s lack of affection from her husband have to do with her fertility?
By Divine decree, the matriarchs struggled with barrenness. Sarah waited. Rebecca prayed. And now, in Jacob’s generation, the pattern continued.
But there was a difference. Abraham had Sarah. Isaac had Rebecca. The question of who would bear the burden never arose. Jacob, however, had two wives. Which one would be chosen for this trial?
And then came the human element. Jacob’s love leaned toward Rachel. And so, the decree was sealed. Rachel joined Sarah and Rebecca in their struggle, and Leah—the sister whom Jacob never intended to marry—was spared. “God saw that Leah was not loved, and so He opened her womb.”
It is a profound moment. Leah, in her pain, receives comfort. Rachel, in her love, receives challenge. To be a matriarch is to shape the future—not through ease, but through sacrifice. Rachel, the beloved, was called to bear that burden.
For those whom God chooses, love is never merely a privilege. It is a responsibility.
