Rebekah

Dear Christa—

Rebekah was a schemer. She might have been beautiful. She and Isaac may have been happy together. It’s notable that it doesn’t appear Isaac took any additional wives. But she was a schemer nonetheless.

And, I’d say she came by it quite naturally from what we see of her brother Laban later.

Rebekah is the impetus and accomplice when Jacob wrestles the blessing out of Isaac. But, eventually scheming has a way of turning on us.

It isn’t long after the misdeed that word comes to Rebekah that Esau plans to kill Jacob, her favorite child, once his dad is gone. One scheme leads to another, and the next thing we know she’s packing him off to her brother’s to save his skin.

A master manipulator she tells Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living” (Gen. 27:46).

It is likely, as we’ll see, that the daughters-in-law were a thorn in the side, but Rebekah orchestrates Isaac’s decision to send Jacob to Laban.

It’s easy to manipulate situations to come out how we think they should. But, that’s not God’s way. The manipulator and schemer are always on the edge, always stressed out about how things will turn out.

God, however, calls us to rest in Him, to pray without ceasing, to always give thanks.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

It’s so easy to fall into conniving, and as with Rebekah, God does work life out the way He intends. Yet, He calls us to rest in Him.

Rest or stress—What seems more appealing?

—the parishioner who doesn’t do anything