Genesis 29 contains a story of vision. Jacob had a vision for his life, but God wanted to bring forth a bigger vision. Jacob wanted to marry Rachel. He saw her and immediately fell in love with her. He agreed to work 7 years to make her his bride. According to the story, the seven years felt like a few short days because of his determination to have her. The wedding happened, there was great celebration, and Jacob took his wife to bed. When the morning came, Jacob realized he had been tricked. He had married Leah—Rachel’s not so pretty older sister—instead of his desired bride.

Rachel was the vision of what Jacob wanted, but it was through Leah that God fulfilled an even greater vision. Jacob did not love Leah. After the honeymoon period, he immediately married Rachel. Leah was left as the disgraced first wife, but God had a plan for her. He gave her four sons; each son represents the four stages of bringing a vision to pass.

The first son was Reuben. Reuben means “To See.†God saw her misery and gave her a son. When God wants to fulfill a vision in our lives, He helps us be able to see it. When we pray and immerse ourselves in His presence, we begin to see. From there, we can begin to imagine what it will be like to live in that vision. See the details, watch your life play out where that vision comes to pass, and let yourself see it.

Her second son was named Simeon. Simeon means “The one that hears.†God heard her cries and blessed her with a second son. Seeing and hearing are connected. We need to be careful about what we listen to in our worlds. Vision is fueled by faith; faith comes through hearing the Word of God. Listen to what God is saying about your vision; listen to the people He has put into your world that speak positively into the vision. Ignore the naysayers and the doubters. Focus on God’s promises.

Her third son was Levi. Levi means “To Graft.†Grafting is a process of joining two things together to make them one. The Bible talks about the grafting of the branches into the vine. Another great example is skin grafts. Skin grafts are taken from one part of the body and placed on another part. The graft is pressed into place; medication is applied; and pressure is added until the graft takes and becomes one with the body. We need to graft ourselves into the vision. Grafting into God’s vision is painful! It is a long process where healing takes place; the Word of God comes in to heal hurts, un-write lies, and teach truth. Things start to get hard as we submit and allow discipline into our lives, but, if we push through and hold true to the process, the graft begins to take. We begin to become one with the vision. Suddenly, it is not this guy’s vision or that girl’s vision; it is our vision.

And finally, there was Judah. Judah means “To Praise.†We praise God even when the vision is not coming to pass the way we want it to or even at all. We lift God high. Praise elevates, encourages, and brings positive perspective to our situation. And it is through praise that we receive our answer. You see, it was through Judah, the son of Leah, the wife Jacob did not want, that Jesus was born. God brought forth a bigger vision than Jacob could ever conceive through the woman he never thought to have. The same thing happens when we see the vision, hear the promises, graft into the vision, and praise Him. We see God’s vision come to pass.