In Genesis chapter twenty-nine verse thirty-one, God allowed Leah to have a child: From her was born Judah, and Judah’s line was born the Christ. However, in situations like these, God often takes the side of those who have experienced oppression and received treatment wrongfully. Leah might have grown in affection for Jacob during those seven years. Sadly for Leah, those years were worked by Jacob specifically to earn Rachel’s hand in marriage. To understand the hurt, she may have felt that her younger, more attractive sister would be married before she was.
Jacob accepted the marriage but did not feel the same love for Leah he carried for Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel enough to work seven years for her; finding Leah in his marriage bed was a harsh surprise. Verse thirty tells that he loved Rachel more than Leah. The verse goes further: “Leah was hated.” Jacob’s love for Rachel with his resentful indifference to Leah meant she was “hated,” at least by comparison. Then again, in this particular case, Jacob’s experience might well have caused him to hate Leah, literally.
God, who is always with Jacob as He has promised, notices Leah’s great pain. To comfort her, the Lord causes her to become pregnant, while the favored, more beautiful, and younger Rachel remains childless. The problem with Jacob and his two wives clearly shows why polygamy is not something to be endorsed by any person. The feelings of one will not be the same for the other. A person with two spouses who declares they love both equally is not enough to build a healthy relationship.
Polygamy in the case of Jacob with his wives Leah and Rachel had their issues. He was not able to satisfy both of them. Jacob had more affection for Rachel rather than Leah.