The Ohr HaChaim says the words ‘Hinei hee Leah - Behold it was Leah’ refer to a Chazal that the women ululating (that Sefardic style of high-pitched noises used at weddings to show approval and “cheer on” the bride and groom) were actually trying to let Yaakov know the truth.
In their noisemaking, what they were really saying was, “Leah hee, it is Leah.” However, Yaakov didn’t get the message and he proceeded with the wedding.
Clearly, it was divinely ordained, but how could Yaakov have missed it?
The answer is that despite his expectation that Lavan would try something like this, Yaakov was so focused on his life with Rachel that he didn’t hear the clues he was given.
He ignored the signs around him because he never imagined that Leah would bear half of his twelve tribes.
Many of us go through life with self-imposed blinders on, trying to see things as we want them to be, instead of as they are.
We can’t fathom that Hashem may have other plans for us, as he did for Yaakov and Leah.
If we keep ourselves open to all possibilities and realize that we may not know what’s best for us, we can hopefully hear the messages when they come and see the truth.
If not, we are simply fooling ourselves.
Thought of the week:
Hearing is listening to what is said. Listening is hearing what is not said.
