Thursday, May 5, 2016

Rebekah

Submitted by Lara Cook
The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.”
The Bible is packed full of stories and lessons for us to learn from and to pattern our lives after; examples of one Godly person after another.  But what we often fail to realize is how human and like us they really were.  For example, take Rebekah.  She married Isaac and their sons were to be the fathers of two conflicting nations.  She struggled with motherhood issues just like the rest of us do and she had a specific problem with favoring one child over the other.   
Rebekah was having twins.  She must have been so excited after many long years of infertility, waiting and hoping that she could bear the children that she and her husband so desperately wanted.  The twins wore Rebekah out in her womb, wrestling with each other.  The Lord told her that they would become two nations that would be divided and that the older one would serve the younger one. When they were born, Esau was born first and Jacob was born grabbing the heel of his older brother.  
As they grew, Rebekah favored Jacob and Isaac favored Esau.  I know she loved both her sons but she must have had a soft spot for Jacob and felt like he needed a little extra help along the way.  When it came time for Isaac to give the blessing, which usually was bestowed on the oldest son, Rebekah helped Jacob bribe his brother into letting him receive the blessing.  Then, because Isaac was old and blind, she helped Jacob trick his father into believing he was giving the blessing to Esau instead of Jacob.  She helped her son lie to get something that was not rightfully his because she wanted him to be blessed. 
Rebekah’s assertiveness and favoritism caused her to deceive Isaac and her deception also led to a split between brothers that still causes turmoil today. But if you notice what the scriptures said above, God told her that this would happen, even while they were still in her womb. God’s plan for Jacob and Esau was still carried out, regardless of Rebekah getting in the way.  She tried to control the situation by tricking her husband into giving the younger son the blessing but God said that the older one would serve the younger one anyway. She didn’t really need to do anything but trust Him. She didn’t need to deceive and use trickery to get her son what she thought he deserved.  God already had it all under control.  This may not have been how God wanted it to happen but He still lined up His plan for their lives and carried it out.
Rebekah may not have made the best choice that day as a mother. She may have set a bad example for her sons but I know she loved her sons – both of them.  I have made many mistakes as a mother.  I have made bad choices and I have set bad examples too. I am pretty sure we all have.  I am so relieved to know that God has my children in the palm of His hand.  This gives me comfort, hope, and faith that even when I make wrong decisions or bad choices that God still protects them and I can’t mess up His path for them.  I am so thankful that in my weakness I cannot derail His plan for their lives.  
Scripture to Claim:
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations… Deuteronomy 7:9

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