"You know I don't work like that!"
"And after, a daughter was born, and she called her name Dina" (B'reishit 30:21). In the span of 28 p'sukim, 29:32-30:24, the Torah tells us of the births of 12 of Yaakov's children: six boys and Dina from Leah, two each from Bilha and Zilpa, and Yosef from Rachel (Binyamin will be born in next week's sedra). For all of the births, the Torah says that she (the mother) was pregnant and gave birth. Only with Dina is there no mention of pregnancy. Some of the commentaries say that "some say" that Dina was a twin of Zevulun. Most m'forshim, on the other hand, say that Leah's pregnancy was not with Dina, but rather with Yosef, and that Leah prayed to G-d that her unborn child should be a girl, so that Rachel would not be shamed. Leah, it is explained, knew (by Ru'ach HaKodesh) that Yaakov was to have 12 sons. She had already borne 6 of them, and Bilha and Zilpa had two each. If she (Leah reasoned) were to have a seventh boy, then Rachel would have at most one boy, and would be shamed to have fewer than either Shifcha (one of the terms for Bilha and Zilpa, daughters of Lavan, we are taught, from a concubine). Her motive was pure and her prayer was answered, the fetus changed, and Dina was the result.

Halacha tells us that if one's wife is pregnant, he should not pray to G-d that the baby should be a boy (or a girl) specifically, since it is what it is already. Such a prayer is called a T'filat Shav, a wasted prayer. (Some say such a prayer is permitted until 40 days after conception.) Others criticize that kind of prayer because it asks for a miracle to be performed, something we have no right to ask for.

We can say that Leah's case was the exception to the rule and that G-d answered her favorably because of the selflessness of the request.
It is sad that a bitter rivalry developed between Leah and Rachel, which mush- roomed in the next generation, because each of the sisters had sacrificed greatly on behalf of the other.

Explanation of the Title: Bill Cosby in his early years as a stand up comic had a routine called Noah and the Lord. It was a humorous presentation of the dialog between G-d and No'ach about the impending Flood and No'ach's preparation for it. One of the exchanges was more than humorous, it was profound. The Lord tells Noah to take one of the hippos out of the Ark and bring in another. Noah, exhausted from his labors asks why. The Lord tells him that they are both male. "So change one of them", Noah says in exasperation. The answer: "You know I don't work like that!"

We would qualify that answer with the word, usually. G-d does not usually do things like Noah was asking Him to do. But once in a rare while...
Hence, Leah's prayer. And His answer to it.