| Strengths Weaknesses & Mistakes LifeLessons |
| Rebekah, a beautiful, young woman didn't realize when she came to the well to draw water for her family, but there was a man there waiting for her. Eliezer, the servant of Abraham had been sent to find a wife for his son Isaac. He had been been given special instruction on who this wife should be, so he prayed when he got to the land where he was supposed to search, that the woman that God presented would not just offer to draw water for him, but for his camels also. He looked not only for physical beauty, but an inner beauty as well, then came Rebekah who did just that, far beyond what anyone else would offer. When the servant explained his mission, she immediately agreed to be Isaac's wife thay went to Isaac's home. What bravery to go to be married to a total stranger in a country considered foriegn to her. She loved Isaac and they bore twin sons, Esau, the older and Jacob, the younger. As the boys grew Rebekah came to favor Jacob, and she began to plan ways that he would prevail over his older brother. Isaac, however, favored Esau because he would go out and get wild game and cook it for him. This, of course caused quite a bit of conflict in the family. When Issac was old and his eyes were week, he was feeling his time was growing near, he told Esau to go catch and cook some wild game for him and Esau would recieve his blessing. Upon overhearing this Rebekah sent Jacob in disguised as Esau so that he could steal the blessing meant for his older brother. These actions totally devistated this family, decieving not only her husband but her own son Esau, Jacob had to run away in fear of his life from his brother. Rebekah has given us classic examples of why our actions and decisions must be guided by God's word. ' ..let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--' {Proverbs 1:5} ' Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.' {Proverbs 19:21}. When we make decisions without seeking God's guidance we end up making a mess and then we have to suffer the consequences of those decisions. Rebekah and Isaac both had openly showed favortism toward their sons, this is wrong, very hurtful, and had to be very distressing to the brothers. We can see the damage it can cause to a family, it caused Jacob to have to flee for his life. 'Then Peter began to speak:"I now realize hwo true it is that God does not show favortism... '{Acts 10:34} 'I charge you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favortism.' {1 Timothy 5:21}. 'But if you show favortism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.' {James 2:9}. Rebekah decieved her husband and her son Esau. Jacob and Esau weren't able to reconcile for many, many years.' You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their decietfulness is in vain.' {Psalms 119: 118}, 'Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not decieve one another.' {Leiticus 19:11}. Yet God can make good out of our mistakes. ' But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.'{Psalms 33:11} |
| Rebekah |
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