Who was Rebekah in the Bible?
Rebekah's story is a great example of God's sovereignty and how God blesses those who are faithful to Him. While Abraham and his descendants were far from perfect, they were who God chose to bring about His plan for redemption for the world. It was not their actions that made them different, but their choice to trust in God.God had chosen Abraham to be the father of a nation of people set apart from the rest of the world. Abraham faithfully followed God as He asked him to leave behind the community and way of life he had known. It was important for Abraham to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac. He did not want his son to marry a Canaanite since they worshipped pagan gods. So Abraham sent a servant to the city of Nahor where his brother lived to pick a wife for Isaac from within the family (Genesis 24:2–4).
Abraham's servant had faith in God just like his master. While on his journey he prayed that God would show him the right woman for Isaac by bringing her to draw him and his camels water from the well where they waited. God answered the servant's prayer as a young woman named Rebekah came and gave him and his camels water (Genesis 24:12–14). Rebekah was a second cousin of Isaac's and Abraham's great niece (Genesis 24:15). She gave the servant water and welcomed him to stay at her parent's home. Her parents consulted her before agreeing to the marriage offer presented by the servant and she consented (Genesis 24:15–67).
After Isaac and Rebekah were married, they had trouble having children. "And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived" (Genesis 25:21). God answered Isaac's prayer and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. During her rough pregnancy God revealed to Rebekah that her sons would become two conflicting nations. He also showed her that her younger son would rule over his older brother. Jacob, the second born, would become the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, and Esau, the firstborn, would be the father of the Edomites.
As the boys grew it was clear that Isaac favored Esau and Rebekah favored Jacob. Rebekah and Jacob shared a family trait of deception. Jacob deceived Esau into handing over his birthright and later, under his mother's persuasion, tricked his father into giving him Esau's blessing. Both suffered consequences for these actions as Jacob was forced to flee to his mother's brother Laban, and Rebekah lost her son. Although Jacob and Rebekah's actions were sinful, God still worked through them in order to fulfill His promise to make Abraham a great nation. Each time Jacob trusted God along his journey he was blessed; he later returned home with a big family and great wealth. God confirmed the covenant He made with Abraham to his son Isaac and then to Jacob (Genesis 35:9–15).
What is the biblical account of Isaac?
Who was Esau in the Bible?
What is the biblical account of Jacob?
Why is knowing about the various characters in the Bible important?
Why do women seem to have a small role in the Bible?
Truth about People in the Bible
