Rebekah

I want to discuss Rebekah today. She's bothering me.

Source: womeninthebible.net

The section is Genesis 25:12 to 28:5. OK, to sum up. Rebekah is pregnant to twins and there seems to be a lot of commotion in the womb. 

She asks God, "What the heck is going on in there?"

God says, "Two nations are in there. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger."



Then they are born. Esau is born first and should get the inheritance/blessing. Esau grows to be a manly hunter and he is liked best by dad (Isaac). Jacob, born younger, likes to stay home cooking and he is liked best by Rebekah.



Now Esau is not too smart. He thinks with his stomach. One day he is hungry and trades his inheritance to Jacob for a bowl of his homemade soup.

Later, Rebekah hears that Isaac is going to bless Esau, so she quick has Jacob cook up a fine meal and then dresses Jacob like Esau (hairy gloves and Esau's stinky hunting gear). Then she sends Jacob into Isaac to pretend to be Esau. It works and Jacob steals Esau's blessing.

Esau is upset and angry. He's going to kill Jacob. Rebekah see this and again steps in and asks Isaac to send Jacob away to get a wife. Isaac does so, and thus blesses Jacob a second time. Off goes Jacob and he marries Leah and Rachel and becomes rich (with sheep and servants, etc).



Rebekah did everything she could to further Jacob over Esau.

I'm not liking Rebekah.

1. She plays favorites with her children.

2. She conniving and encourages her son to lie and steal.

But, God told her up front that Jacob would be stronger and would rule over Esau. That's my dilemma. If God told her that, does that make her behavior OK?


I don't think so.

I think God would have found a different way for Jacob to lead without Rebekah's assistance.


What do you think?

(Note: This is also posted on Dawn's The Write Soil Blog.)