"Rebekah"

Overview

Rebekah and the Promise She Could Not Trust

Rebekah enters Scripture as an answer to prayer. Abraham's servant, sent to find a wife for Isaac, asked the Lord for steadfast love and success Genesis 24:12—and before he had even finished praying, Rebekah appeared. Isaac loved her, and in time she conceived twins. While the boys still struggled in her womb, she inquired of the Lord and received a remarkable promise: "Two nations are in your womb… and the elder shall serve the younger" Genesis 25:23. Paul later draws on this very moment to highlight that God's choice of Jacob preceded any good or bad action on his part—pure, sovereign election by God's call Romans 9:10-12.

The family that grew up around that promise became deeply fractured. Esau, the firstborn, despised the birthright that secured a double inheritance Deuteronomy 21:17 and the covenant blessings of land, offspring, and blessing—trading it for a bowl of stew Genesis 25:29-34; Hebrews would later mark him as godless and immoral Hebrews 12:16. Isaac favored Esau and resolved to bless him anyway. Rebekah favored Jacob and engineered an elaborate deception to secure the blessing for him Genesis 27:5-17. The plan worked—but at terrible cost to the family.

The deeper question is what Rebekah's actions reveal about her heart. God had already promised that Jacob would carry the line of the Messiah. She did not need to lie, disguise, or scheme; she needed to trust. Instead, her words and deeds betrayed unbelief in the very promise she had been given. She took matters into her own hands rather than resting in the God who had spoken. Our actions, too, often expose what we actually believe. We can hold the promise and still live as though everything depends on our manipulation of circumstances.

The good news is that the promise did not fail despite Rebekah's failure. Jesus came through this very line, bore our sins—including our failures of trust—at the cross, and rose to keep on coming to us with His word of forgiveness. To the lonely, He promises His presence: He will never leave nor forsake us. To the weak, He is our strength. To the lost, He is our light. To the fearful, He is our assurance. The God who makes promises keeps them. Beloved of God, claimed in the waters of baptism, do not live like Rebekah—speak and act on the promises of the One who has already spoken His "yes" over you in Christ.

Transcript

Let's open our Bibles, please. 1s

This morning for our study, we will begin in Genesis, 3s

the very first book of Holy Scripture, the 24th chapter. 7s

Genesis 24, where we will begin this morning. 11s

The Bible tells us that when Abraham was old, 18s

he turned to his servant. 23s

His servant that was really the chief of staff. 25s

He was in charge of everything. 28s

And he turned to that servant and said, 32s

find me a wife for Isaac. 36s

Now that would not have been an uncommon request in ancient day, 42s

because marriages were really arranged by families. 45s

And so, off the servant goes to find a wife for Isaac. 50s

Look with me, please, at chapter 24, verse 12. 57s

Because the servant is turning to the Lord in prayer. 61s

Chapter 24, verse 12, it says this. 65s

And he said, oh Lord, God of my master, Abraham. 69s

Please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master, Abraham. 73s

Before he could finish the prayer, 81s

who came, but Rebecca, Rebecca. 86s

And the Bible tells us that Isaac loved Rebecca. 93s

After a bit, they had some twins. 102s

In chapter 25, picking up in verse 27, 106s

it tells us about these twins. 110s

And this is often the case in a family. 113s

The children can be quite different from one another. 116s

Why was all of us? 120s

God has placed his unique and creative stamp upon us. 121s

In other words, there's not going to be anybody in the world 126s

that will be exactly like us. 130s

Nobody before, nobody currently, nobody that will come. 132s

We each bear the creative, unique stamp of God. 136s

And that creative, unique stamp was certainly evident in these two twins. 141s

The oldest is Issa and the younger is Jacob. 147s

And they were different. 153s

Verse 27 of chapter 25. 156s

When the boys grew up, Issa was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. 159s

While Jacob was a quiet man, living, intense. 165s

Different. 171s

And then look at the very next verse. 174s

Isaac loved Issa because he was fond of game. 177s

But Rebecca loved Jacob. 182s

So we've got some favorite children going on here with the parents. 186s

Do you ever get a sense when you read that verse that this is just indicative of problems on the horizon? 195s

In ancient day, the birthright was so very, very important. 209s

If you were a male and you were the first born, you were really in a privileged position. 213s

You would get double of the inheritance. 221s

That's Deuteronomy chapter 21. 223s

And if you were a part of the covenant people of God, this huge people that came forth from Abraham and Sarah that eventually leads to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. 226s

If you were a part of that covenant people, remember that covenant had land offspring and blessing. 237s

So you would then, as the first born, get the substance of the land. 245s

You would get the substance of the blessing, the substance of the hers. 248s

So if you were the first born, you were really in a privileged and wonderful position. 254s

Remember, between these two twins, the first born was Esau and the second one was Jacob. 264s

But then the Bible tells us a story. 275s

Going on into verse 29, it says, once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished. 278s

Esau said to Jacob, let me eat some of that red stuff for I am famished. 287s

Therefore he was called Edam. 293s

Jacob said, first, sell me your birthright. 297s

Jacob sees an opportunity here. 303s

He knows his brother, his brother is hungry, and so if Jacob can pull this deal off, this is going to be quite a deal for him. 305s

Getting the birthright and all that comes with it in exchange for a bowl of stew, pretty good deal here, if Esau bites. 316s

We go on. 329s

Verse 32, Esau said, I am about to die of what use is a birthright to me. 331s

Now he is not about physically die here. 338s

This is a dramatic statement on the part of Esau. 342s

Kind of like if you ever say the phrase, I am just starving to death when you are so hungry, that is what Esau is communicating here. 346s

Verse 33, Jacob said, swear to me first, so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 356s

Then Jacob gave Esau a bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way, thus Esau despised his birthright. 366s

But here is a thing. 380s

Even though the birthright had been sold, when Isaac had become old, and his eyes, the Bible say, were dim. 383s

When he had become old, he called the firstborn, Esau to him, and said, Esau, go out and hunt for game, make me my savory food. 392s

That which I so enjoy, and then I will give you the blessing. 405s

In other words, I will give you the blessing of the firstborn. 410s

So even though Esau had sold the birthright to Jacob, Isaac was going to go ahead and go to the birthright. 414s

And still, bless Esau. He was determined to bless Esau. 422s

Rebecca? She would have nothing to do with that plan. 434s

And the Bible tells us of this very intricate plan of deception. 443s

We pick up in chapter 27 verse 5. 449s

Now Rebecca was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. 456s

So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebecca said to her son, Jacob, 460s

I heard your father say to your brother Esau, 467s

bring me game and prepare for me savory foods that eat that I may bless you before the Lord before I die. 469s

Now therefore my son, obey my word as I command you. 478s

Go to the flock, get me two choice kids so that I may prepare for them savory food for your father, 483s

such as he likes and you shall take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies. 490s

But Jacob said to his mother, Rebecca, look, my brother Esau is a hairy man and I am of smooth skin. 500s

Perhaps my father will feel me and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse on myself and not a blessing. 507s

His mother said to him, let your curse be on me my son, only obey my word and go, get them for me. 515s

So he went and got them and brought them to his mother and his mother prepared savory food such as his father loved. 529s

Then Rebecca took the best garments of her elder son Esau which were with her in the house and put them on her younger son, Jacob, 537s

and she put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 548s

Then she handed the savory food and the bread that she had prepared to her son, Jacob. 554s

And what's the result of this? 562s

Guess who gets the blessing? 565s

Jacob gets the blessing. 569s

This intricate plan of deception put into motion and Jacob is the one that gets the blessing. 572s

As I studied for the sermon, 588s

I came across a reference to a prayer included in a wedding service. 590s

So I tracked it down and found out that in this particular wedding service there was a petition that was said about the bride and the groom. 596s

And it started like this as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together and then it went on to bless this couple. 608s

Is that reflected on that? 618s

I don't think Isaac and Rebecca would have been my first choice for a marital couple to lift up in a wedding service. 621s

Because this was absolutely an act of deception, deceit, Rebecca tricked her husband, Isaac, absolutely tricked him. 633s

And Jacob goes right along with mom. 646s

This act of deception. 651s

Here's the question. 653s

What does that reveal about Rebecca? 657s

What does it reveal about Rebecca? 663s

Rebecca? 667s

Have you ever heard the term dysfunctional family? 671s

It's a term that's been used over past several decades. 676s

This functional family. 682s

As you look at this family, they probably fit the bill, don't they? 685s

Just look at the parents, Isaac and Rebecca. 694s

They both have their favorite children. 699s

That's going to be problematic. 702s

Look at Jacob and his deceit. 705s

And then you look at Isle while he brews the 12th chapter, it tells us that Isle was a godless, any moral man. 707s

If you were looking to preach the sermon series on dysfunctional families in the Bible, you could spend a few weeks and have plenty of material just looking at this particular family. 717s

But this sermon is about Rebecca. 733s

So let's focus on her. 736s

So often, our words and our actions are reflective of what it is that we believe. 740s

Now certainly, there are those times where we miss speak, where we say something and we say, 751s

that came out wrong or let me rephrase that. 756s

Those times where we change our mind on things. 760s

But so often, words and actions, why they're rooted in what one believes and so you know what one believes by their actions, by their words. 764s

Turn back with me, please, to chapter 25 verse 22. 782s

This was when Rebecca was carrying the boys in her womb. 788s

The scripture says in verse 22 of chapter 25, it says, that children struggled together within her and she said, 794s

if it is to be this way, why do I live? 804s

Now there was it must have been very uncomfortable of for her. 807s

And then the Bible says, so she went to inquire of the Lord. 811s

And the Lord said to her, two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided. 816s

That's a word of prophecy. 828s

Exactly what happened. 830s

E saw eventually became the nation of Eden and Eden were enemies of the Israelites. 832s

Then it goes on. The Lord says, the one shall be stronger than the other. 845s

And then it says, the elder shall serve the younger. 850s

The elder shall serve the younger. 856s

In other words, this promise from God was made to Rebecca. 864s

This promise that said that Jacob would be the forefather of the promised Messiah. 868s

Not, not he saw it would be Jacob. 877s

Well why Jacob? 882s

Paul talks about this in Romans 9th chapter. 885s

This very family. 888s

And in the 9th chapter, it says this, something similar happened to Rebecca. 891s

When she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor, Isaac. 897s

Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad, 903s

so that God's purpose of election might continue, not by works, but by his call. 908s

She was told, the elder shall serve the younger. 916s

What was it about? Jacob? Why was Jacob chosen? 925s

Why was Jacob chosen? 930s

To be the forefather of the Messiah? 932s

Why was Jacob chosen by the Lord? 935s

Just because. 940s

Just because. 942s

Because that's what God did. 944s

That was God's choice. 947s

Bible says there was nothing about Jacob. 949s

There was nothing about Easter. 951s

Remember, the Bible says before they had been born or had done anything good or bad, 953s

God simply chose Jacob. 959s

That Jacob would be the forerunner. 963s

Now certainly, certainly, Rebecca would have told this to Isaac. 969s

Certainly, Isaac would know this. 976s

And yet Isaac is bent on giving the blessing to Esau. 980s

He would have known about this and yet he's bent on giving that blessing to Esau and not to Jacob. 988s

And what is Rebecca do? 997s

Rebecca comes up with this sinful, deceitful plan to get the blessing to Jacob. 999s

She comes up with all of the details of deception and works the deception. 1008s

And she comes up with that plan. 1013s

What does this reveal about Rebecca? 1016s

There's a whole sermon. 1021s

You can preach on Isaac. 1023s

That's a whole other sermon there about his actions. 1024s

But what does this say about Rebecca? 1029s

What does this reveal about her? 1032s

She didn't trust in God who had made the promise. 1037s

She didn't trust the promise that had been given to her. 1041s

That Jacob would be the one. 1047s

She didn't trust that promise so she takes matters into her own hands. 1052s

She takes matters into her own hands. 1057s

Comes up with a plan of deception which certainly wouldn't be pleasing unto God Almighty. 1059s

She comes up with the plan why because she doesn't trust the promise. 1066s

Her words, her actions were reflective of the fact that even though God had told her when the boys were in the womb. 1075s

This is how it is. 1087s

This is my choice. 1088s

She didn't trust that promise and moved to act with deception. 1091s

God comes to us with a host of promises. 1103s

Promises of his presence. 1109s

Promises of his guidance. 1111s

Promises of his love. 1112s

On and on goes the list. 1114s

But we can be tempted by our actions and by our words to live. 1118s

Not trusting in the promise. 1128s

You see, we can be like Rebecca. 1132s

We can be people that have received the promise and yet they act not trusting the promise. 1136s

In our own words. 1146s

In our own actions. 1148s

We can see Rebecca in us. 1151s

Jesus came through this line. 1161s

Just as God had promised. 1164s

That promise of a great people and out of this people would come to the Messiah that was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus. 1167s

And Jesus went to the cross. 1175s

The second member of the Trinity who had taken on flesh. 1179s

True God and true man. 1185s

He took upon himself at the cross all of our sin. 1188s

All of our rebellion. 1191s

All of our sinful thoughts and words and deeds. 1194s

All the things we've done and all the things we've left undone. 1196s

He took it upon himself. 1200s

And the punishment for sin was laid upon Jesus. 1203s

All of our sin, including the sin of the lack of trust in the promises of God. 1211s

God comes to us each and every day with His word of forgiveness. 1225s

He keeps coming to us saying that indeed we are forgiven. 1229s

That indeed we are loved. 1235s

We're claimed in the waters of baptism. 1237s

God makes his decision about us. 1239s

And He keeps coming. 1242s

The clearing to us. 1244s

His forgiven people. 1246s

He keeps coming to us with His promises. 1249s

Day after day after day through His word. 1254s

Today, are you feeling alone? 1261s

Here the promise. 1269s

He will never leave you or forsake you. 1271s

Today, are you feeling weak? 1275s

Here the promise. 1280s

God is our strength. 1282s

Today, are you feeling lost? 1285s

Here the promise that God is our light. 1290s

Today, are you feeling afraid? 1296s

Here the promise. 1303s

He is our assurance. 1305s

The promise giver. 1310s

God Almighty keeps His promises. 1314s

Promises that we can count on. 1320s

Promises that we can stand on. 1323s

Promises that form us. 1327s

If God makes the promise, then God keeps the promise. 1330s

Beloved of God, redeemed by Him, claimed in the waters of baptism as His own. 1337s

Beloved of God, speak and act on the promises. 1347s