Rebecca, Amazing Woman of Faith

Rebekah saw a stranger sitting beside the village well. Like most young maidens she had been sent to the well to bring water for the evening meal. On her shoulder she carried a pitcher. She dropped the pitcher into the well on a rope and brought up water.

As Rebekah pulled up her pitcher, the stranger asked if she would give him a drink. He looked tired and thirsty as if he had been on a long journey. “Of course,” Rebecca said as she handed the man her pitcher full of water.

She saw 10 camels lying beside the well. They looked tired and thirsty too. “May I draw water for your camels,” she asked. The stranger nodded with a knowing smile.

Woman of Faith at well — provided by JW.org

You see, the stranger had traveled over 3 months from Canaan to reach the city of Haran. He had been commissioned to find a wife for his master’s son, Isaac. When he stopped beside the well, he prayed for the Lord’s help. As he prayed, he had an idea. “Lord, show me the maiden I am to choose. When I ask for a drink, she will offer to water my camels also.”

To draw enough water for 10 camels was a lot of work. Each camel could drink up to 70 gallons of water. Abraham’s servant marveled as Rebekah brought up pitcher after pitcher to pour into the trough until the camels were no longer thirsty.

Rebekah was beautiful. She was about the right age to marry (14 years old). She went about her work happily. The servant thought, “Surely this must be the Lord’s choice for Isaacs’s wife.”

Only one question remained. Abraham had specified the maiden should be from his family in Haran.

A Brave Woman of Faith

Abraham’s servant then inquired about Rebekah’s family and discovered she was Abraham’s grandniece. The servant was overjoyed and praised the Lord.

Rebekah rushed home to tell her family that her uncle’s servant had come to Haran. Immediately her brother, rushed to invite this man and his companions into his house. He even provided for the 10 camels.

Abraham’s servant explained why he had come to Haran. He told them about his prayer at the well and how Rebecca had answered that prayer when she offered to draw water for his camels. Then he offered her family jewels of silver and gold. He asked if they would allow Rebekah to return with him to Canaan.

It was unusual for a daughter to be consulted about marriage arrangements, But they said, “We will call the young woman and ask her.” Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” Genesis 24: 57- 58

Rebekah was a woman of faith and courage. She agreed to go with this man she had just met, based only on his report. She had faith that the Lord’s hand was in it. Therefore, she was willing to leave her family, friends, and the only life she knew to marry a man she had never met.

The caravan route to Canaan was 700 miles of bandit infested trails. Abraham’s servant had brought well equipped soldiers with him. But Rebekah only had her maids. To the robbers, beautiful young women were considered a fantastic prize. So, it would be a dangerous journey.

Rebekah Woman of Faith Endangers Her Husband

Because the area where they were living experienced a terrible famine, Isaac and Rebekah were forced to move. They moved south to Gerar. The king of Gerar was named Abimelech. It seems that heathen kings and princes were in the habit of claiming any beautiful woman who happened to catch their fancy.

Abraham’s family was famous for its beautiful women. When Abraham came to Gerar the king had coveted his wife, Sarah even though she was 90 years old. Now, nearly a century later Isaac feared the beauty of his wife might cause a similar problem. The fact that a woman was married was of no consequence to these heathens. They could easily have the husband murdered.

So when the king asked Isaac about his wife Isaac said, she is my sister: for he feared to say, she is my wife; Lest the men should kill him for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

After they had lived in Gerar for some time, the king saw Isaac sporting with Rebekah his wife. Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Surely she is your wife and how did you say, she is my sister?” And Isaac told him, “I said it, least I die.”

It was a Hebrew custom to call near relatives “sister” or “brother.” This was used by Isaac to escape being killed. Isaac followed the same advice the Lord had given to Abraham in the case of Sarah. Nevertheless when the king discovered the true relationship, he issued a mandate saying, “He that touches this man, or his wife will surely be put to death.”

Rebekah Makes a Mistake Which Costs Her Dearly

Later, Rebekah overheard Isaac tell Esau he would give him the blessing belonging to the firstborn. Rebekah knew from the prophecy the Lord had given her before the twins birth that Jacob should receive the birthright blessing. Apparently, she had not been able to convince Isaac about the prophecy she received.

She decided to deceive Isaac, whose eyes had become dim with age. She put goat skins on Jacob’s arms and the smooth skin of his neck. Jacob reluctantly put on Esau’s clothes so he would smell like Esau. Jacob brought meat to his father and claimed to be Esau. Isaac did not detect the deception. He gave Jacob the birthright blessing.

Later Isaac told Esau that Jacob had received the correct blessing. However, Esau would also receive a blessing from his father.

Rebekah’s decision would change her life and her family’s life forever. It would also change the way we look at our world today. Because Jacob’s family became the people who wrote the Bible.

Outcome of That Fateful Decision

Esau was so angry, he determined to kill Jacob. When Rebekah heard this, she told Jacob he must flee. She suggested that he go to Haran and stay with her Brother’s family. She hoped Esau’s anger would diminish in time. Then she would send for Jacob.

Rebekah never saw Jacob again. She never met her grandchildren by Jacob. Jacob went to Haran. There he married and fathered 10 sons before he returned to the land of Canaan. By then Esau had forgiven Jacob and welcomed him home.

Jacob was re-named Israel by the Lord and fathered the 12 tribes of Israel. Most of the Bible stories are about Jacob’s (Israel’s) family.

Learn more about the 12 Tribes of Israel at: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-twelve-tribes-of-israel