Rebekah waltzes into biblical history as a handsome ,hospitable lass, willing not only to provide a faring stranger with a delicious drink of water but water his camels as well. She brought the stranger home to her father and was subsequently willing to follow the old servant to marry a totally before-seen stranger who was claimed to be a relative. The rings and gifts were substantial but what solace would fine clothes and rings provide, when betrothed to a louse. This girl had either a large dose of foolish spunk or faith. A feisty virgin, she decided to veil herself only when she was informed that she was in the vicinity of her groom-to-be. She was blessed to have a husband who would love her.
Unable to conceive, her husband had prayed for her. His prayer was heard, but she labored with two who would struggle continuously within her. She too called on the LORD, and interestingly, the LORD did speak to her, to inform her on her eventuality. One wonders if she ever consulted with her husband on the revelation.
When the boys were being born, the struggle was unimpeded; the elder was birthed with the younger grasping his heel as if in pursuit. The elder, much favored by his father, was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. The younger, her own favorite, a docile, perhaps the more domesticated variety who would be good at making lentil pottage whilst his brother excelled in savory meats hunted from the fields.
When she overheard that her husband was about to bless his favored son, Rebekah committed the unspeakable. She commanded her young son to fetch two lambs for her to prepare a deceitful dish. When the boy was wary of offending his near-blind father and inviting his displeasure, she displayed not a vestige of restraint but embraced on herself whatever curses could transpire. She donned Jacob with goat’s skin cuffs on his wrists and around his nape. She made him wear his brother’s clothes, when they were to be in her safe custody. She commanded Jacob to conspire and connive not to wrest, but to steal Esau’s blessing. She made Jacob claim he was Esau to deceive his father. Jacob bested his mother when he said that the LORD has so blessed the hasted meal. She succeeded.
What kind of mother would do this? What kind of wife could do this? Were her actions moral? Consider, that this was in an era, when wives were quite often regarded as chattels, with their husbands as lord overall. Her mutinous insurrection culminating in deceit and thievery should have attracted serious consequences from the husband. Yet there was none.
There is little recorded of Rebekah after this monumental incident. She simply faded in oblivion. As a matter of fact, even her death is not mentioned, only that she was buried with her husband. There was no record of she, ever receiving the return of her favored Jacob or seeing the fruition of her ways. Still, there is one more mention of her in Romans; where Paul was expounding the LORD’s sovereignty.
On trial for now, is the issue of Rebekah's faith. The LORD has spoken to her and told her His plans. Did Rebekah have to intervene with unscrupulous means to achieve the LORD’s design? Did the ends justify the means? Does morality take a backseat in deference to obedience? Yet, can Rebekah, having been told, simply have folded her arms and let destiny migrate its own course? Is the LORD’s hand shortened? Can faith be without works? Was Rebekah an imponderable extremist? Is obedience paramount? Can obedience be shrouded with disobedience?
God bless.
/ckh
Unable to conceive, her husband had prayed for her. His prayer was heard, but she labored with two who would struggle continuously within her. She too called on the LORD, and interestingly, the LORD did speak to her, to inform her on her eventuality. One wonders if she ever consulted with her husband on the revelation.
When the boys were being born, the struggle was unimpeded; the elder was birthed with the younger grasping his heel as if in pursuit. The elder, much favored by his father, was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. The younger, her own favorite, a docile, perhaps the more domesticated variety who would be good at making lentil pottage whilst his brother excelled in savory meats hunted from the fields.
When she overheard that her husband was about to bless his favored son, Rebekah committed the unspeakable. She commanded her young son to fetch two lambs for her to prepare a deceitful dish. When the boy was wary of offending his near-blind father and inviting his displeasure, she displayed not a vestige of restraint but embraced on herself whatever curses could transpire. She donned Jacob with goat’s skin cuffs on his wrists and around his nape. She made him wear his brother’s clothes, when they were to be in her safe custody. She commanded Jacob to conspire and connive not to wrest, but to steal Esau’s blessing. She made Jacob claim he was Esau to deceive his father. Jacob bested his mother when he said that the LORD has so blessed the hasted meal. She succeeded.
What kind of mother would do this? What kind of wife could do this? Were her actions moral? Consider, that this was in an era, when wives were quite often regarded as chattels, with their husbands as lord overall. Her mutinous insurrection culminating in deceit and thievery should have attracted serious consequences from the husband. Yet there was none.
There is little recorded of Rebekah after this monumental incident. She simply faded in oblivion. As a matter of fact, even her death is not mentioned, only that she was buried with her husband. There was no record of she, ever receiving the return of her favored Jacob or seeing the fruition of her ways. Still, there is one more mention of her in Romans; where Paul was expounding the LORD’s sovereignty.
On trial for now, is the issue of Rebekah's faith. The LORD has spoken to her and told her His plans. Did Rebekah have to intervene with unscrupulous means to achieve the LORD’s design? Did the ends justify the means? Does morality take a backseat in deference to obedience? Yet, can Rebekah, having been told, simply have folded her arms and let destiny migrate its own course? Is the LORD’s hand shortened? Can faith be without works? Was Rebekah an imponderable extremist? Is obedience paramount? Can obedience be shrouded with disobedience?
God bless.
/ckh
