Married with Children...

Genesis 23:1 - 25:34


Genesis 24:1-67
After the death of Sarah, Abraham, realizing his days could be short as well, instructed his chief servant to swear that he would get a wife for his son, Isaac. The wife was not to come form the land of Canaan, where they were living at that time. She was to be from Abraham's home land and she was to be from Abraham's relatives. The chief servant swore an oath to do this.

Now, the way that Rebekah actually came to be Isaac's wife is really unusual...

A stranger from another land (the servant) comes to town; he sits down by the well; he asks for a drink; he puts a ring in Rebekah's nose and bracelets on her wrists; he asks who her father is and if he may stay the night with them at their house; and, now she is supposed to leave her family and become this man's master's son's wife.

Makes total sense to me!?!?

WOW! What a whirlwind of a story.

I want to take just a moment to tell you what I see in Rebekah. I believe Rebekah to be a woman of faith, which will fit in well with Abraham's family. I see her as a woman of much conviction, a woman with little to no hesitation, a strong willed woman (this can be both good and bad). She is a woman that, if she believes something and desires to have it, will go after it with fervor. She believed that God had sent someone to take her to her husband and she was ready to go!


(Here's a little side note: I am finding it difficult to try to keep these post brief. I am a very wordy person and I tend to find myself giving a great deal of detail. Sometimes I may just as well cut and paste the entire story. I just don't want to leave out anything that is important! Please bear with me as I refine my writing skills.)


Genesis 25:1-

Before Abraham's death he took another wife who gave him 6 other sons. According to my count, this would mean that Abraham had a total of 8 sons. He had 2 sons by Sarah and 6 by his second wife. When Abraham died he left everything to Isaac.

After years of marriage, Isaac came to realize that Rebekah was barren and could not have children. So, Isaac prayed for her to be healed. The Lord answered Isaac's prayer! Rebekah became pregnant with twins. As the babies grew in her womb, they were quite active. She asked the Lord about this. He replied,  "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

When the twin boys were born the oldest, Esau, was red and very hairy. The younger, Jacob, came out holding his brother's heel. As the boys grew, Esau was drawn to the outdoors and was a great hunter. Jacob was more of a homebody, staying around the tents. Jacob was very special to Rebekah, he was her favorite. While Isaac was partial to Esau.

One day, while Jacob was cooking, Esau came home famished. He asked for some of the stew that Jacob was cooking. Jacob refused, telling Esau that he would not give it to him until Esau first sold Jacob his birthright. They argued about it and eventually Esau sold his birthright to Jacob.

Form that point forward Esau despised his birthright.

I guess a good meal cost a pretty penny in those days as well...