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Walking Among Them: Rebecca

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The object of this study is to take some time out of our busy, often chaotic days and spend some time with women who have gone before us. Not just any women, but 26 women of the Bible. We’ll “Walk Among Them” and see how their stories relate to our lives. It’s my hope that we will discover God’s presence and grace in our own lives as the lives and lessons of these women unfold before us this year.

Women of the Bible: Lesson 3, Rebecca

Her story begins in Genesis 24

(This study will be enhanced if you spend some time reading Rebecca’s story in Genesis)

When I first read about Rebecca, I remember thinking, “I like this gal, I really like her.” Perhaps it was the image that I conjured up in my mind of a girl who wasn’t afraid to draw water, yet was described in Scripture as beautiful. She apparently had a mind of her own as well. She had unwavering faith, brave and bold faith. Her story began with the Rebecca that I wanted to be. As her story unfolds, uncomfortable manipulation and a desire to control expose Rebecca’s humanness, and perhaps my own flaws rise to the surface. It’s the combination of these traits that Rebecca becomes a woman from long ago who can offer us “modern women” timeless lessons on life. The walk with Rebecca promises to be unforgettable.

We meet Rebecca at a well. She is working hard drawing water from the well. Like many of us she is not afraid to get her hands dirty. It’s at this well, the well at not inside of some palace that the stage is set as the beginning of Rebecca’s story. She is approached by a stranger sent by Abraham to bring back a wife for Isaac. We learn that before approaching the well that the servant has prayed;

“O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I many have a drink, and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too,’ – Let her be the one you have chosen for Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” Before he had finished praying, Rebecca came out with her jar on her shoulder…..”

Genesis 24:12-14

There she readily speaks to the stranger, and is willing to listen to what he had to say. She offers him water and offers to give water to the camels too. THEN she is presented jewelry, a nose ring and bracelets. (I know, nose rings aren’t exactly what we’d want to be given, but in those days it was a very respectful gift!) When they go back to the home, she has the stranger meet the family and then she makes the decision of a lifetime. She agrees to go with the stranger and commit to marrying Isaac, sight unseen.

THAT’S FAITH LADIES….

‘And they called Rebecca and said to her “Will you go with this man?” She said “I will”. So they sent away their sister Rebecca and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his man, and they blessed Rebecca.’

(Genesis 24-57-61)

Gutsy move.

Just imagine for a moment that you are in Rebecca’s shoes. The man you are about to marry has NEVER seen you nor will have any say in the matter. You COMPLETELY TRUST the words of the stranger that Abraham sent and see it as your destiny, and you faithfully submit to circumstances that are unimaginable just days before.

We are comforted by the fact that we read that Isaac sees Rebecca and takes her into the tent of Sarah.

WHEW! He likes her, he really likes her.

THEN finally, after a long period of trying to conceive…27 years to be exact, she is FINALLY pregnant. THEN with twins wrestling inside of her we are told in Scripture that she “inquires to the Lord.” (Genesis 25:22) She asks, the first woman we read of in Scripture who boldly approaches the throne of God to ask, “What is going on God?”

God gives her an answer that likely confuses her;

“Two nations are in your womb and two peoples from within you will be separated, one people will be stronger than the other and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)

THUS the tale of the twins begins. Both boys. One, Esau is the hunter and athlete. He is also the one who doesn’t take into consideration how his parents feel when he marries non-Hebrew women. The other, Jacob, is more interested in learning than hunting, the more introspective of the two. The brothers struggle and one day Esau carelessly gives his birthright to his brother. This meant that when the father died, the property would be divided up but the child with the ‘birthright’ (the eldest) would get double the property and possessions.

When the time came for Isaac to give the formal blessing, Rebecca takes matters into her own hands. She is less than thrilled with the women that Esau has taken as wives and believes that Jacob would serve the clan better. She leads Jacob into a web of lies and Jacob eventually tricks Isaac into believing that he is giving Esau the blessing when in fact he is giving it to Jacob. In the modern world we’d call it a SOAP OPERA.

Rebecca defies tradition and helps to give the birthright to the son that SHE thinks deserves the title. Understandably, Esau isn’t happy to see that he has been betrayed by his mother and his brother.

“Now Esau hated Jacob because of the Blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob”. But the words of her elder son Esau were told to Rebecca.’ (Genesis 27:41)

Rebecca’s story is our story. It is one of a woman of faith who at times veers off of the path and takes matters into her own hands and her flaws are exposed to us. Rebecca is a loving mother, a disappointed mother, a loving wife, a manipulating wife. She is a contradiction of herself. Sound like anyone you know?? It’s not a comfortable situation for us. Rebecca is both so good and so flawed, like most of us. She exposes the self serving nature that we all wrestle with, while deep down wanting what’s best for those she loves.

With each woman that we study, I’ll have some thoughts and ideas for reflection, meditation and journaling that will be called “Reflections from the Walk.” It’s in Walking Among Them that we can learn lessons that we can take with us on our daily walks.

Reflections from the walk:

Imagine that you are living in the days of Rebecca. Would you be friends with her? Why? What qualities does she possess that you admire? If you don’t think you would be friends, why not?
Rebecca reveals so many character traits to us, which do you identify with?
- Faithful Rebecca?
- Bold Rebecca?
- Manipulative Rebecca?
- Conflicted Rebecca?
If you have children, have you ever favored one over the other? This may be a challenging question to honestly answer. While our experiences may not be as dramatic as Rebecca’s we are often guilty of manipulation within our own circumstances. It is a fact that our children move through different stages and at different times we may feel compassion or frustration towards one or another. Have those feelings ever caused you to “take matters into your own hands” to try and control a situation with your children rather than letting God be in control?A question for all the “jewelry loving ladies!” Spend some time honestly thinking about why you wear jewelry. Jewelry was an important part of Rebecca’s society. It is a status symbol in our own world. Perhaps it’s time for an honest assessment of the jewelry we “adorn” ourselves with. We are told over and over in Scripture that we are to possess inner beauty, and yet many of us find ourselves falling into conformity in regards to outward beauty of that the world dictates.
For the third time, we revisit this quote by Phillip Graham Ryken:

“The weaknesses we see in the people of the Bible are the very weaknesses we ought to recognize in ourselves. Live Eve who ate the forbidden fruit we are vulnerable to temptation when we act on our own. Like Abraham, who lied about his wife to save his neck, we are vulnerable to temptation when we are scared. Like David, who slept with Bathsheba while his men were off to war, we are vulnerable to temptation when we are idle. Like Elijah, who wanted God to end his life, we are vulnerable to temptation when we are exhausted. Like Peter, who denied his Lord even after he promised to die for him, we are vulnerable to temptation when we are overconfident. In other words, we are vulnerable to temptation practically all the time.”

What made Rebecca vulnerable to temptation? Fear? Overconfidence? Pride? Control?
Can you relate to the temptations that Rebecca fell into? Do you see yourself revealed in the weakness of Rebecca?
Spend some time this week evaluating your relationship with your children. Journal about your relationship with each one of them. What are your prayers for them? What areas of their lives concern you? Go boldly to God with these prayers and concerns and write your prayers honestly out. Express your heart to God in regards to the children that HE has placed in your care.

Join me next time when we will take a walk with Jochebed on February 28th.

A PDF version of this study is available here
Lori is a 5th year homeschool mom to 3. Currently a 8th grader, a 6th grader and a 4th grader. Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. It’s in the daily details of life that she is continually inspired! Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.