Rebekah

Rebekah was the wife of Isaac. Genesis 24 tells the story of Abraham’s servant who seeks a wife for Isaac. Following Abraham’s instructions, he traveled to Haran in Aram-naharaim (northwest Mesopotamia) to find Abraham’s relatives. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a local Canaanite. The servant prayed that the woman God chose for Isaac would offer him a drink and also water his camels (Genesis 24:12–14). This would confirm God’s choice and show her character, hospitality, and work ethic.

God clearly answered his prayer by providing Rebekah, Bethuel's daughter (Genesis 22:23; 25:20). Bethuel was the son of Abraham's brother Nahor (24:24).

Abraham’s servant explained how God guided him (Genesis 24:34–49). Rebekah’s family saw it as God's work, but they hesitated to let her leave right away (24:50–56). However, Rebekah showed faith in God's plan and was ready to leave her family immediately to marry Isaac (Genesis 24:57–58). Rebekah's faith was greatly rewarded. The blessing her family gave her when she left came true when she had the next generation of God's chosen line with Isaac (Genesis 24:59–60).

Rebekah gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:20–26). She favored Jacob, the younger son, because God told her he would be stronger and lead the two (Genesis 25:23). Rebekah helped Jacob take the firstborn's blessing by tricking Isaac (Genesis 27:1–40). She then arranged for Jacob to go to Haran to escape Esau's anger (Genesis 27:41–28:5). Rebekah's deceit caused a lasting division in the family. She likely never saw Jacob again. However, she was buried with Isaac in the family burial site (Genesis 49:31). She fulfilled God's plan as the mother of Jacob, the founding father of Israel.

Passages for Further Study

Genesis 22:23; Genesis 24:12–67; Genesis 25:20–28; Genesis 26:7–8, 35; Genesis 27:5–17, 42–46; Genesis 29:12; Genesis 35:8; Genesis 49:31; Romans 9:10–13