Rebekah was a lot like me and perhaps a lot like you. She had been raised to trust in a God who is trustworthy and a God who provides direction and answers prayer. 

But, she also had a tendency to be self sufficient and rely on her own wisdom and resources. She failed to fully rest in God’s promises to her.

Rebekah was the person of focus as God’s will unfolded for obtaining Isaac a suitable wife. The servant who went to seek a wife for Isaac knew that He needed God’s guidance for this was a very important task. As he watched and interacted with Rebekah, God showed him that she was not just a pretty face but a person of moral character, hard working and filled with a strong sense of duty. She was productive, responsible and didn’t shirk from labor or duty. (Try googling how much a single camel drinks and multiply that by 10 to see just how cumbersome a task it was to water that herd of camels from a well. )

Rebekah’s family, but more importantly Rebekah put full trust in God’s sovereignty when they believed and trusted the servant who explained how God had revealed his will through answered prayer and guidance. She trusted God was in control so much that she chose to immediately leave all the people and comforts of what was familiar to her to travel far away with a stranger to a strange place to marry a man she had never seen and knew little about. 

Rebekah had a strong faith in God and it was God that she turned to for comfort and guidance when distressed about her pregnancy. There were no ultrasounds back then or pregnancy experts. There were no grand lifesaving delivery rooms. But when she went to the One in control of all, she was comforted in His promise to her:

“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

Oh, if only Rebekah had continued in her pattern of seeking God for wisdom and guidance and fully relying on Him to bring His perfect will to pass. I’m not sure why she decided she needed to take matters into her own hands but she did. She masterminded a very brilliant plan for making sure her favorite son received all of the blessings and resources that would customarily go to the elder son but it cost her dearly. What discord and drama resulted, pitting family members against each other and tearing the unity of the family apart. And Rebekah paid dearly at a personal level for she lived the remainder of her days without her beloved Jacob near her side.

God gifts us with many talents and resources. Like Rebekah, He wants us to use those talents and resources to bring honor to Him and serve others. But, when we fail to fully seek Him and trust His timing and rest in His promises, we suffer the consequences. God doesn’t want us to be self reliant. He wants us to trust that He will be faithful and He is in control. In return, He promises us a peace and vitality that only He can give.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-8‬ ‭

Reflection:

1. Why do you think Rebekah thought she needed to be manipulative after God had made His promise to her?
2. Do you have a tendency to be self reliant vs God reliant?
3. What can you do to be more reliant on God and to find rest in His promises and provision?