Women in the Bible - Rebekah

     Rebekah was a bold woman who left her parents to marry a man she has never seen.  She did not have children right away, and when she did become pregnant, she had a difficult time.   She gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob.  Esau, the first born, was a skilled hunter.  Jacob, the second born, was the opposite, quiet and careful.  Rebekah loved Jacob because he was more sensitive than Esau.  She deceived her husband Isaac into naming Jacob as his heir.

      The Lord said to 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

     

     Rebekah suffered the consequences when her son Esau turned against Jacob. God may not answer all our questions about life’s suffering; but he is in control.  Today with all the evil in the world, there are many Christians who live in obedience to God’s Word and He continues to live in the hearts of those that have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.   

     What is the message of the story?  Rebekah made a choice and had to pay the consequences.  Sometimes we have to choose the lesser of two evils.  We have to take the difficult path, make the difficult decision, even when we would like to avoid it.  

    Think about times when you have had to bear the heavy load of decision-making for your family.  As a parent or grandparent, we must stand firm with our own family for their good.  It is never easy.