Women of The Bible Discussion -Saturday January 10th, 2009 @ Deeper Life Fellowship
Rebekah -
Genesis 24-28 click on the link below for these passages (NIV version)
Passages for Rebekah
One of the things we discussed this morning about Rebekah was why did she deceive Isaac? How could she? When I first read this I was focused on Rebekah's deception. She knew God and heard from God; she knew what the promise was for Jacob. So I had wondered why she felt the need to deceive. Here was a woman of God and yet she didn't turn to God as she did when she was pregnant. I began to wonder how and if I would have acted differently...Rebecca knew God's plan for Jacob but she hears Isaac say that he is going to bless Esau...did she act in panic fearing that Isaac would thwart God's plan? Had she taken the time to think and process her actions I believe she would lean on God in full confidence of His being able and faithful to carry out His will. This was God's plan after all that the elder should serve the younger.
Something triggered a panic response in Rebecca ,perhaps the immediacy of the circumstance prevented her from seeking the Lord. I know the pressure for an immediate response usually leads me to making unwise choices. When things require my immediate response I should not forget that God is in control and I don't have to panic. That I can trust Him to carry out His plan.
We also discussed how Esau was representative of the old covenant and Jacob represented the new covenant. In the culture of the time the elder son would have been the one to obtain a double portion of the inheritance. It would be his responsibility to become head of the household and care for his family. God had chosen Jacob. Esau sold his inheritance for food. Esau eyes were on the moment and the need of his flesh. Esau was looking for immediate gratification. Had he thought it through perhaps he would have made a different choice. We too sometimes give into our demanding flesh and reap dreadful consequences. Sometimes our flesh cries out so loud it deafens us to hearing wisdom. We say words that may feel good for a moment but the effect of that word brings damage to self and others. We make monetary decisions that bring pleasure for a moment but leave us in debt. When we react hastily it often lacks wisdom. Acting hastily often reveals a lack of discipline. Esau not only acted on his flesh but when the consequences were apparent he did not accept responsibility for his own actions. He not only blamed Jacob but intended to kill him. Some of us are also guilty of placing the blame on others rather than taking responsibility for our own actions. How can we make wise choices when confronted by our own hunger, when the flesh is screaming so loud attempting to drown out the voice of reason? When we do make mistakes how can we change from placing the blame on others and accepting our responsibility for our choices?
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An inspiring study of the Word and a time of bonding were shared at the Women’s Bible Study on Saturday discussing Rebekah, mother of twins, Esau and Jacob. The in-depth discussion regarding Rebekah’s reason for deceiving Isaac and plotting with Jacob to steal the ‘patriarchal blessing’ from the eldest, Esau, was illuminating and filled with revelation. The entire study raised many questions that we related to our personal lives and applied to our spiritual understanding, or lack of.
Why, we wondered, would God bring dissension into the womb of Rebekah after waiting 20 years to conceive? What was the significance of the younger twin Jacob, being born a few minutes later than his brother Esau? Why did Rebekah’s life as the wife of Isaac, so closely parallel her in-law’s, Sara and Abraham? ie: Why was Rebekah asked to deny her position as a wife, and to pretend to be Isaac’s sister? Why did Rebekah revert to the ‘flesh’ to accomplish a plan that God had ordained from the womb? (Debrah ‘s blog on this inquery is insightful.) Why did God set up the foundational tradition through Abraham that the ‘first born’ would receive a double portion of the patriarch’s given blessings? Why would Esau sell his birthright, giving his inheritance to his brother? What character qualities were lacking in each to cause them to behave in such ungodly ways?
These questions were discussed during the study and I won’t elaborate here. However, for me, understanding was given that God ordained, through His promise to Abraham, patriarchal examples of God’s principles in the offspring, Isaac and Jacob. God’s words and dealings in the lives of each of these heirs reveal God’s unfolding plan of redemption for mankind. His plan is twofold: 1) Restoration of fellowship with God. 2) Restoration of rulership in life, under God, to re-establish man’s ability to rule their life in the practical aspects of family and business.
Under this covenant, God promised a family line and property (an economic base). This plan was designed so that not only are God’s children to be blessed, but we are to be a blessing to others through our fruitfulness.
Jacob’s life is an example of this principle. In spite of the deception of Rebekah & Jacob in gaining Esau’s blessing for Jacob, God patiently roots out the resulting seed of deception planted in Jacob through the sins of Rebekah , Isaac & even Abraham beginning by meeting with Jacob in a dream. In this passage Jacob wrestles with God and swears he will not give up until he receives his ‘own’ patriarchal blessing at Bethel –thereby, I believe, righteously earning that foundational gift for future generations. Then Jacob spent 20 years working for Laban under a man-made (not God ordained) covenant, in which God taught Jacob the lesson of living in the deprivation of deception.
Although God had ordained that Jacob would rule over Esau; even though Esau gave his birthright up for a bowl of stew; although Isaac bestowed the patriarchal blessing being blind and duped by Jacob, there is a principle of righteousness here. I believe that although God may ordain a divine event, unless we have positioned ourselves for it, in the natural, and in righteousness, that blessing, however divinely ordained, can be stolen from us and lost. Yes, God can and will make a way to accomplish His Word – however, we must be willing participants. We must have a heart desirous to be obedient and we ultimately must have clean hands and a pure heart in order to receive God’s purest and best.
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