When we speak of women in the scriptures whose lives Christians can emulate, Rebekah would make the list. In this article, we will discuss the interesting story of Rebekah in the Bible, focusing on the key lessons we learn from her life.
Just like Sarah, Ruth, and Esther, Rebekah is an important personality in the Old Testament of the Bible. She is well-known for her beauty, diligence, kindness, and faith in God.
On the contrary, Rebekah is famous for her craftiness and manipulative acts for the sake of her son Jacob. Regardless, this woman played a great role in fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. Hence, Rebekah’s life suggests that God can use anyone to fulfill his divine plans, despite their imperfections.
Quick Assessment
Why does your prayer life keep falling flat?
It's usually one of four things — and each one needs a completely different strategy to break through. This 2-minute assessment tells you exactly which pattern is blocking you.
Let’s discuss who Rebekah is and the key lessons from her life, including her strengths and her weaknesses, according to biblical records in the Book of Genesis.
Who is Rebekah in the Bible?
Source: Canva
Rebekah is the wife of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and the mother of Jacob and Esau, their twin boys. She was also the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milkah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, which makes her one of the cousins of Isaac.
In the book of Genesis 24, we read the biblical account of Isaac’s meeting with Rebekah, as Abraham’s servant played a key role in their connection.
Free Resource
Get Your FREE Prayer Guide Now
and join the Daily Way Devotional: Join 25,000+ Subscribers
After the death of Sarah, the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac, Abraham thought it was time for Isaac to get married. However, he doesn’t want his son to marry any of the daughters of the men of the city of Canaan, even though they were inhabitants of the city during that period. Instead, Abraham desired that Isaac should marry from his country and his own people.
So Abraham instructed his senior servant to go to the city of Nahor to look for a wife for his son Isaac, praying for him and providing everything needed for the journey. As the servant set out to look for a wife for his master’s son, he prayed that God should make his journey successful. He further prayed that any of the young ladies who gave him and his camels water to drink among the women of the city would be Isaac’s wife.
Shortly afterward, a young woman named Rebekah came with a jar on her shoulder to draw water. Not only did she offer Abraham’s servant water, but she also provided water for his master’s camels.
Without a doubt, the servant became convinced that his journey was successful because he had found Isaac’s bride.
Rebekah’s story is full of several lessons that can contribute to the spiritual growth of believers. Let’s discuss 7 of these lessons using biblical references.
1. Always Ask For Divine Help
One of the reasons the journey of Abraham’s servant was successful, when he set out to look for Isaac’s wife Rebekah, was because he asked God to help him.
According to this biblical story in Genesis 24:12, the servant said a few words of prayers that show he was in need of God’s help at that critical moment. He says, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.”
In Genesis 24:14, the servant asked the Lord for a sign that would prove that the woman he meets at the well would be Isaac’s appointed wife, and he received answers to his prayers. Asking God for divine help is a sign of humility and faith in His mighty power.
Many Christians act as if they can do things by themselves and only see prayers as a last resort. Most times, this attitude results in failure and stagnancy. Jesus Christ makes us understand in John 15:5 that without Him, we can do nothing.
Moreover, the book of Proverbs 3:5–6 encourages us to “trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Abraham knew that choosing a wife for his son was a major decision because a lot of factors depended on it. As a result, Abraham gave the assignment to his trusted servant and made him swear before praying for him (Genesis 24:3–7).
Maybe you’re about to choose a life partner, or a career; don’t hesitate to ask for God’s help and guidance. Remember, nothing is too big or small for the Lord to handle as long as you put your trust in Him.
2. Demonstrate Godly Characters
Rebekah has some godly behaviors that made her obtain the favor of Abraham’s servant, earning her the position of Isaac’s wife. Here are a few of them:
Diligence
We read in the Book of Genesis 24:15 that Rebekah carried a jar on her shoulder and went to draw water from the well, which requires great physical strength. Despite the fact that camels drink a lot of water because they travel long journeys, Rebekah offered to provide water for Abraham’s servant and these animals. This implies that she was diligent, an important quality all believers must possess.
Several verses of the scriptures emphasize the need to be diligent and the consequences of laziness. One of these verses is Proverbs 22:29, which says, “Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.”
If you want to associate with people in high positions, avoid idleness.
Kindness
Another impressive character Rebekah possesses is kindness. Although Rebekah did not know Abraham’s servant, she was ready to help the man and his camels without expecting anything in return. When the servant asked her for water, she answered him politely and granted his request without grumbling.
Rebekah’s family prepared a place for Abraham’s servant and his men to stay in their home and also provided food and shelter for the camels. God wants us to demonstrate our love to others by showing kindness to them.
Apostle Paul instructs believers in Galatians 6:10 saying, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Sexual Purity
Genesis 24:16 tells us that Rebekah was a virgin and no man has had any sexual relations with her. Despite Rebekah’s beauty, she remained sexually pure until marriage.
Young unmarried men and women should learn to be sexually disciplined as it comes with several rewards. Those who don’t engage in sexual sins always attract God’s attention, as we see in the story of Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:27).
Read and meditate on the word of God in 1 Corinthians 6:18: “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.”
Rebekah was a woman of faith, considering her decision to go with Abraham’s servant to meet Isaac, a man he has never met before. According to the biblical story in Genesis 24:49–67, the servant of Abraham asked Rebekah’s family members if she could go with him.
Rebekah’s father and brother permitted Rebekah to go with him because they believed their meeting was from the Lord. Then Rebekah’s brother Laban and his mother suggested that Rebekah should stay with them for 10 more days.
Noticing their hesitation to release the young lady, Abraham’s servant pleaded with them not to delay him. When they asked Rebekah if she was ready to go, she said, “I will go” (Genesis 24:58).
Although Rebekah hadn’t met Abraham’s servant or Isaac before, she was ready to leave her father’s house and journey into an unknown destination. Luckily, she obtained favor because Isaac accepted her and married her in his mother Sarah’s tent.
In Genesis 24:67, the Bible makes us understand that Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death because he married Rebekah.
This story teaches us to trust God completely and be ready to take bold steps of faith when the need arises. Some individuals have lost life-changing opportunities because they were not decisive.
Although some decisions can be difficult to make, we must be conscious of the guidance of the Holy Spirit at all times. Always remember the words of James 2:26, which say, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
4. Develop a Prayer Lifestyle
Source: Pexels
Another key lesson to learn from the story of Rebekah is that God answers prayers. Genesis 25:20-27 narrates the series of events that led to the birth of Esau and Jacob, her twin sons.
After 20 years of marriage, Isaac and Rebekah didn’t have children of their own because Rebekah was barren. So Isaac prayed on behalf of his wife, and the Lord answered his prayers with Rebekah’s pregnancy as proof.
When Rebekah’s unborn children began to jostle each other in her womb, she went to seek the face of God about this issue. Genesis 25:23 speaks of God’s response to her questions:
“And the LORD told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other, and your older son will serve your younger son.”
During the time Rebekah gave birth, she noticed there were two boys in her womb. The first son has red skin, and his body was like a hairy garment, and they named him Esau. Afterwards, his brother came out, holding on to Esau’s heel, and they named him Jacob.
Rebekah’s desire to seek the face of God reminds us of the efficacy of prayer. Whenever Rebekah has any challenge, she’ll go to God in prayer instead of complaining or blaming others.
As believers, let’s have it in mind that there is nothing too difficult for God to do (Jeremiah 32:27). Additionally, the Lord is always ready to answer our prayers as long as they conform to His will for our lives (Romans 8:32).
5. Favoritism Can Create Long-Term Problems
Just like the other biblical characters who made a great impact in their generation, Rebekah wasn’t perfect. She loved her younger son Jacob more than his brother Esau, and this family favoritism resulted in long-term enmity between the two men.
According to the biblical account in Genesis 25:27–28, Esau grew up to become a skilled hunter, while Jacob was a shepherd. Both Isaac and Rebekah preferred one son to the other, with Esau being Isaac’s favorite and Jacob being Rebekah’s favorite son.
Sadly, the poor decisions of both parents created a lot of issues between their two sons that extended for a long time.
Showing preference for someone while treating the others poorly can breed envy, jealousy, malice, bitterness, anger, unhealthy competition and all manners of vengeful behaviors.
Whether at home, in the office, or at school, believers must learn to treat everyone equally because we’re one in the sight of God (Galatians 3:28).
Another weakness we see in the life of Rebekah is deception, which is contrary to the behaviors God requires from us as Christians. Genesis 27:1-46 provides a detailed account of Rebekah’s deceptive tendencies and the aftermath of this behavior in the lives of her sons.
When Isaac was old and he couldn’t see, he told his older son Esau that he wanted to bless him. However, Isaac’s condition for blessing Esau was that the young man must prepare savory food from his hunted animals for him to eat. Isaac and Esau weren’t aware that Rebekah was listening to their conversations.
So when Esau left, she informed his favorite son Jacob about Isaac’s blessing and asked the young man to disguise as Esau to receive the blessing. Since Esau was a hairy man, Rebekah gave Jacob some of his clothes to wear and covered the possible places Isaac could touch with goatskins.
Eventually, Jacob received the blessings belonging to Esau from their father Isaac because of Rebekah’s deceit. Unfortunately, this behavior infuritated Esau to the extent that he decided to kill his brother Jacob if not for the timely intervention of Rebekah, who advised Jacob to go to her brother Laban’s house.
Every act of evil comes with serious consequences that may result in irreversible problems. And so we must be careful about the way we live our lives as children of God.
Any behavior that doesn’t conform to the ways of God is from the devil, and we must flee from it. God’s word warns all believers in the book of 1 Thessalonians 5:22, saying, “Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].”
7. Nothing Can Change God’s Plan
No matter the circumstances, God’s plan will surely prevail over our lives. In the Book of Genesis 17:15-16, God promised Abraham, the father of Isaac, that He would bless him and Sarah, his wife, with a son who would become nations. Rebekah’s husband Isaac was the son of promise whom the Lord promised Abraham.
From human perspectives, Rebekah shouldn’t have been part of God’s plan for Abraham because her parenting skills were poor (favoritism and dishonesty), and she was deceitful and manipulative. But God doesn’t think the way we think, and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8).
The Lord can use an imperfect situation or an imperfect individual to fulfill His purpose in a person’s life. Romans 8:28 confirms that the good and the bad situations work together to ensure that God’s plan comes to pass in the lives of His children.
Final Thoughts
Take some time to study the story of Rebekah in the Bible, and you’ll realize that there are several lessons to learn from her life. While this great woman had some godly characters, she also has certain flaws.
Given this fact, we’re reminded as believers that God doesn’t look down on us because of our sins and imperfections.
Whenever the Lord decides to fulfill a plan for our lives, He will ensure that nothing stops it. Nevertheless, we must determine to live a holy and righteous life, as this attracts God’s attention to our lives.
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
You can follow Kennie on LinkedIn or Instagram.
