Rebekah’s Wild Act of Faith | Bible Lesson

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You’ve heard of Rebekah in the Bible, right? Usually when I hear her story its in connection to Jacob and Esau. We talk about the role she played in stealing Esau’s birthright and the dysfunction that caused within the family. It’s like she ruined her own reputation.

When was the last time you read the story of Rebekah in the Bible? Or studied the characteristics of Rebekah in the Bible?

When I was reading her story in Genesis 25 there were a couple things about it that hit much differently than they have in prior studies. They drastically change how I see the story of Rebekah.

This articles serves as a summary of those “aha moments” that help me see Rebekah and her story how they truly are; Faith-filled and inspiring.

What happened to Rebekah in the Bible? Keep reading to get the whole story!

Where is the story of Rebekah in the Bible?

You’ll find the story of Rebekah in the Bible verses in Genesis 24 and Genesis 25.

Genesis 24 tells the story of how Isaac and Rebekah met. Genesis 25 ties Rebekah to the story of Jacob, Esau, and the birthright.

We’ll go through both of those stories individually in upcoming paragraphs.

First, let’s set the stage with some Rebekah in the Bible facts and trivia!

5 Facts About Rebekah In the Bible?

1. Like most people in the Bible, Rebekah’s name actually tells us a lot about her character. Can you guess what Rebekah means in Hebrew?
2. Rebekah’s marriage wasn’t planned.
3. Rebekah pregnant was a miracle. What did God say to Rebekah about her pregnancy? Keep reading to find out!
4. Rebekah is one the few women in the Bible (that we have record of) who talked to and heard from God.
5. Rebekah played a HUGE role in Isaac being mentioned in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)!

Uncovering the Meaning of Rebekah In the Bible

There are two understanding of the name and meaning of Rebekah in Hebrew.

1. Captivating
2. To tie firmly, knotted chord, snare.

Rebekah was captivating. When Abraham’s servant met Rebekah for the first time, she was described as, “a young woman… very beautiful to behold” (Genesis 25 16). It’s my belief that it wasn’t just Rebekah’s appearance that was captivating, but also her character. We’ll examine some of the characteristics of Rebekah in the Bible shortly.

The second idea behind the Rebekah in the Bible meaning gives the idea of catching and binding two things together. That might sound without context, but I promise you it’ll make sense by the end of this story.

What Kind of Person Was Rebekah In the Bible?

One thing I love about the introduction to Rebekah in the Bible (Genesis 24) is that we can tell the Spirit of Rebekah is sweet and humble. But also bold. And confident. Like I mentioned before, it wasn’t just her looks that made her captivating.

When Abraham’s servant meets her at the well she demonstrates immediate hospitality, paying no mind to the fact that the man she encountered was a stranger.

And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”

So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let down her pitcher down and to her hand and gave him a drink.

And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” Then she emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back, to the well to draw water, and drew for his camels.
Genesis 24:17-20

The man in this story is Abraham’s servant. He was sent to Nahor to find a wife for his son Isaac. The Lord led him to Rebekah and confirmed that Rebekah was the one Isaac was to marry, through Rebekah’s own conduct read Genesis 24:10-22). Her response to the servants request for water ensured him what he needed to know.

What would this response tell him about Rebekah’s character? From this he would learn that she was hospitable, compassionate, and humble.

In addition, I believe Rebekah walked with God. I believe it was God who gave her the green light to abandon cultural customs tied to marriage. She would immediately leave her home to become the bride of Isaac. Not at her own whim, but at the leading of God. God-fearer. Add that to the list of Rebekah in the Bible characteristics. Rebekah’s ability to hear and follow God into the unfamiliar and slightly controversial plays a huge role in the rest of this story.

Isaac Meets Rebekah

I always used to think of Isaac and Rebekah as a honey moon couple. I don’t know why that is exactly. It just made sense in my head that Isaac, the miracle child and child of promise, would have a pretty sweet and simple life. We love a good fairy-tale right?

The truth is, Rebekah entered Isaac’s life during a time of grieving. His mother Sarah had just passed away and his marriage to Rebekah became a source of love and comfort (see Genesis 24:67).

The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly how old Rebekah was when she married Isaac, but it does describe her as a young woman, and we know from previous Scripture that she was old enough to care properly for livestock and pull water from the well on her own. The Bible does tell us that Isaac was 40 years old when He took Rebekah to be his wife (see Genesis 25:20).

Did Isaac and Rebekah have a good marriage? The Bible doesn’t speak much to that either. We know from Genesis 25:19 that Isaac loved Rebekah. He stuck with her through infertility. He provided for their household as required by customs. It’s not a lot, but it’s what we know.

Was Rebekah Barren?

Was Rebekah in the Bible barren? At one point, she was. Infertility was a struggle that all three patriarchs and their wives dealt with (with the exception of Leah).

Abraham and Sarah dealt with infertility.
Isaac and Rebekah dealt with infertility.
And Jacob and Rachel dealt with infertility.

What’s interesting about this is that in all three cases God promised these couples innumerable descendants.

In Genesis 15:5 God speaks to Abraham and says, “Look now toward the heaven, and count the states if you are able to number them… so shall your descendants be.”
In Genesis 26:2-5 God speaks the same words to Isaac.
And now in Genesis 25 God turns his attention to the wife of Isaac and speaks just to her. What does God speak to Rebekah?

…Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.
Genesis 25:23

And this is where the controversial story of Rebekah in the Bible begins.

The Real Story | What Happened to Rebekah In the Bible?

A couple years about I went to a Bible study group for moms where we talked about Isaac, Rebekah, and their “family drama.” Their lessons from Rebekah in the Bible focused primarily on the fact that having favorites in families causes problems. While I don’t disagree I think it’s important to take a closer look at this family dynamic. When we do, the story starts to make a bit more sense.

Just like God gave a promise to Abraham, He also gave a promise to Rebekah. What was promised to Rebekah?

Two sons.

What does God tell Rebekah before she gives birth?

“…The older will serve the younger.”
Genesis 25:23

Why Did Rebekah Favor Jacob?

From the get-go, Rebekah knew that God’s blessing was on younger son.

This also explains why Isaac may have favored Esau. Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly how many years Rebekah was barren but we can tell her bareness grieved Isaac based on Genesis 25:21.

“Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren…”
Genesis 25:21.

As the firstborn son, Esau was God’s answer to Isaac’s prayers.

Still, God’s blessing from the get-go rested on Jacob. Rebekah knew this. Which explains her actions in Genesis 27.

Rebekah’s Role In Jacob’s Blessing

Traditionally among God’s people (and likely other cultures in biblical history), family blessing were given at the time of a father’s passing or a son’s departing (due to marriage or relocation). These blessings can be physical, but they can also come in other forms. When Abraham son’s (from his second wife Keturah) left the family home just before Abraham’s death, they were sent away with gifts (Genesis 25:6). Years later when Jacob is on his death bed he blesses each of his twelve sons, and two of Joseph’s sons by speaking prophetically over them. No material possessions are mentioned as a part of this blessing.

The birthright on the other hand is always given to the first born son of the married couple. The birthright typically includes the family inheritance (wealth, land, etc.) and comes with authority and responsibility for the family. Since Esau was the first born of Rebekah’s two sons, the birthright legally belonged to him. That is until he sold it (see Genesis 25:29-34).

Even without his birthright, Esau anticipated receiving a bountiful blessing at his father’s passing. Based on Scripture we can assume Isaac was eager to give Esau this gift. Unfortunately for both of people, what the anticipated was different than what God had ordained.

This blessing was to go to Jacob. When it came time for Isaac to pass and the blessing to be spoken, Rebekah remembered God’s words, and acted accordingly.

The Faith and Obedience of Rebekah in the Bible

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son… Behold now, I am old, I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make the savory food, such as I love, and bring bring it to me that I may bless you before I die.”
Genesis 27:2-4

I can imagine Isaac longing for this special moment with Esau. Interestingly enough Isaac doesn’t speak of an inheritance or blessing for Jacob. Makes me wonder if he intended to give him anything at all.

In Genesis 27 Rebekah hears this conversation between Isaac and Esau and is moved to act. This is the part of the story that most people have a problem with. We read it through a lens of what is right in our eyes. But Rebekah wasn’t driven by what would please man, she was moved by the words of God.

She saw that man’s plan wasn’t matching up with God’s plan. God said the blessing would go to Jacob; and so she acted in agreement with what God said must be.

So she instructs Jacob to present himself as Esau, put goat skins on him arms so that he will seem hairy like Esau, and bring stew (made by Rebekah) as his father requested (see Genesis 27:10).

When Jacob hears the plan he objects,

…Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth skinned man. Perhaps my father will feel me and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.”
Genesis 27:11-12

If this were simply an act of favoritism, the thought of being discovered and cursed would be enough to stop an honorable God-fearing person in their tracks. Because this isn’t about favoritism, but heeding the direction of God Rebekah responds with a boldness often overshadowed.

…Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice and go, get them for me.”
Genesis 27:13

Rebekah was so confident in what God had spoken to her that she was willing to take the fall if she was wrong. Yet, the curse never comes, even after the “plot” is discovered.

I believe this is because the words God needed Isaac to speak to Jacob were in fact spoken to Jacob. In fact, it is this act that lands Isaac and Rebekah in the Bible in the Hall of Faith along side Abraham and Isaac! The author of Hebrews writes,

By faith Isaac blessed both Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Hebrews 11:20

Rebekah’s faithfulness to God allowed Isaac to give the right words, at the right time, to the right persons.

 

Did Rebekah Ever See Jacob Again?

Unfortunately, God’s plans don’t always produce the peace we hope for. When Isaac realized what happened he was grieved. When Esau realized what had happened he was enraged. He went as far as threatening to kill Jacob, a threat that was real enough that Rebekah thought it best to send Jacob away to safety (Genesis 27:41-45).

This is last time we hear of Rebekah in the Bible.

Scripture doesn’t record her being present when Jacob and Esau reconcile (a good 20 or so years later) and it doesn’t give specifics of how or where she died. The death of Rebekah in the Bible is a mystery.

Lessons from Rebekah In the Bible

What does the story of Rebekah teach us today? There are many lessons from Rebekah in the Bible that we should hold onto. The most important ones, have to do with faith.

1. Faith isn’t cookie cutter shaped.
2. Genuine faith lead to obedience.
3. God’s faithfulness to us inspires boldness IN us.

Faith Isn’t Cookie Cutter Shaped

The story of Rebekah is challenging to a lot of people because it brings into questions what genuine faith looks like. We’ve been taught for a long time that faith has a certain look, but if we study the Bible we learn quickly that faith isn’t the cookie cutter thing we thought it was. Faith can look messy and questionable. Faith can easily be misunderstood. Without context or understanding it’s to assume the worst of her. We say she played favorites and was selfish and deceptive. Turns out, she was faithful to the only voice that mattered.

Genuine Faith Leads to Obedience

Faith isn’t just believing something to be true, but acting in agreement. Hebrews 11 tells us that it was faith that lead Isaac to bless his children in agreement with God’s will. While Isaac spoke the right words, Rebekah positioned him to be able to speak them over the right persons. She knew what God had declared and she was quick to act accordingly.

God’s Faithfulness To Us Inspires Boldness IN Us

Sometimes acting on what we know and believe (faith) requires us to make choices others won’t understand. That pressure to be understood often causes us to compromise and get out of step with God. When we make our lives about serving God instead pleasing people, His faithfulness to us encourages us to do the brave hard things that no one around us will understand. That’s probably my favorite part of Rebekah’s story. This one brave act, impacted generations to come! From this blessing comes the nation God chose to be a light to the world; Israel. Rebekah did what she needed to do in order to tie (remember the meaning of her name) Jacob and the word God spoke over him tightly together.

Bible Study Questions for the Story of Rebekah In the Bible

Thanks so much for sticking with us through this story of Rebekah in the Bible summary! Use the Bible study questions below to explore the rest of Rebekah’s story!

Print them here!

1. Who was Rebekah? What do you know about her?
2. Where did Rebekah come from?
3. Summarize the story of Rebekah’s engagement.
4. What gifts did Abraham’s servant give to Rebekah after they met at the well?
5. Why was Rebekah’s marriage an act of faith?
6. How would you describe Rebekah’s character?
7. What reason do we have to believe Rebekah was a God-fearer and knew how to discern God’s voice?
8. Describe the covenant God made with Isaac?
9. Describe the promise/prophecy God spoke to Rebekah regarding her children? What was abnormal about it?
10. What reason might Abraham have for calling Esau his favorite? 
11. Read the story of Esau and Jacob in Genesis 25:29-34. How does this situation play into the rest of the story?
    
12.  What does Hebrews 11 teach about Isaac and Rebekah and the blessings they gave their sons?
13. Why is Rebekah important in the Bible?
    
14. How does Rebekah’s name fit her into her story?  
15. What nation is birthed from Jacob and his descendants?