Who Was Isaac’s Wife In The Bible
The Bible provides a detailed account of the life, faith, and relationships of the patriarchs of the Old Testament, giving readers insights into the past. One of the most intriguing relationships is that of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and his wife, Rebekah. As the bride of Isaac and the mother of his children, Rebekah is a key figure in the Bible, and her story is filled with timeless lessons.
Isaac is first introduced in the Genesis account of his miraculous conception. Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was barren and feared that she would never bear a child. In order to fulfill God’s promise to give Abraham a son, He asked Abraham to take Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar, as a wife. Despite her advanced age, Sarah then bore Abraham a son, and he named him Isaac. Introducing God’s miraculous intervention into their lives, the story of Isaac was a reminder to society that God can do what is impossible for human beings.
The Bible described how Abraham summoned his loyal servant Eliezer to find a bride for Isaac. Upon arriving in the land of the sons of Nahor, Eliezer found Rebekah at a well. The servants gave her a nose-ring and two gold earrings as an offering of the wealth of the family of Abraham, and asked the family to discuss an alliance by marriage. After Rebekah accepted the offer, the Bible described her as a virtuous and godly woman, who willingly sacrificed her own home to follow Eliezer and to marry Isaac.
Rebekah soon revealed her remarkable intelligence and capability when Abraham passed away and Isaac was left to deal with his brother’s sons, Esau and Jacob. The Bible detailed how Rebekah and her son Jacob plotted to deceive Isaac into giving Jacob his father’s blessing intended for Esau. Despite Rebekah’s use of devious tactics, God ultimately protected Jacob and made him the ancestor of the nation of Israel. This event birthed in Jewish tradition one of the main messages behind the story of Isaac: Respect the wisdom of the elderly, as God’s providence can be seen for generations to come.
The narrative of Rebekah does not end there. After her son Jacob went to work for his uncle, Rebekah promised him that if he worked for seven years, he would be able to marry Rachel, a woman he had fallen in love with. In a touching moment, Rebekah blessed her son before he left. She did not know that Rachel’s father had tricked Jacob into marrying her sister Leah first. In spite of the deception, God ultimately blessed the family of Isaac through His faithfulness and Israel’s twelve tribes were formed through the descendants of Jacob.
The example of Rebekah embodies principles of faith, strength, and commitment seen throughout the Bible. Despite her misdeeds, she was faithful in fulfilling God’s calling in her life. She was strong in the face of obstacle, sacrificing her home and family to marry Isaac; and committed to her belief that God’s providence would reach through to the horizon. Through this example, Rebekah still blesses us with countless lessons, even today.
Vocational Training of Isaac’s Wife
The story of Isaac and Rebekah in the bible reveals that Rebekah’s relationship with Isaac was instrumental in shaping the arrival of the Messiah. Though much of her vocational training is not known, her wisdom and insightfulness are often credited as the reasons why she was chosen as the wife of Isaac.
While the bible of course does not explain how Rebekah obtained her wisdom and insight, it is likely that much was drawn from her background. She was the granddaughter of Shem, the son of Noah and the ancestor of Abraham and his descendants. As a descendant of Shem, it has been suggested that Rebekah might have had the advantage of having heard numerous stories from her grandfather about the experiences of Noah, which would have provided her with a wealth of wisdom regarding the do’s and don’ts that were necessary for surviving the tumultuous antagonism and challenges of life.
It is also possible that Rebekah learned some of her wisdom and insight through her studies of the sciences and other forms of academic study. This could account for why she was able to recognize the deception her father-in-law’s placed against Jacob and have the insight to enable Jacob to obtain what should have been rightfully his according to God’s promises to Abraham.
Though Rebekah’s vocational training is not firmly known, it is clear that she was a highly intelligent, wise, and insightful person. This is why, in accord with God’s will for Isaac, she was chosen to be his wife.
Practical Roles & Responsibilities of Rebekah
The bible narrative records several of the practical roles and responsibilities which Rebekah fulfilled in the life of her husband, Isaac. As a wife and mother, the bible states that she contributed to the household in a practical way, including the tending of animals and overseeing the preparation of food.
The bible also mentions Rebekah’s role concerning Jacob and Esau, her sons. As their mother, Rebekah favored Jacob, which was seen in her advice that he pretend to be Esau in order to get Isaac’s blessing. Rebekah was a patient upbringer, providing guidance and wisdom to her children so they could grow into strong and moral individuals.
As a grandmother Rebekah was also influential in the raising of her grandchildren, which is demonstrated by her role in Jacob’s marriage. When Jacob moved to Harran and asked to be married to his cousin Rachel, Rebekah suggested he first serve for seven years in order to show Laban, Rachel’s father, that he was serious about the marriage. This demonstrates not only Rebekah’s wise discernment but also her love for her grandson and her desire to do what was best for him.
In addition to these practical roles, Rebekah can be seen as an intercessor who prayed for her family and for God’s purpose to be fulfilled. The bible mentions her prayer for her son Jacob and her fear that the country he was dwelling in would cause him to forget God’s ways.
Isaac’s Marriage to Rebekah
Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah played an important role not only in his life but also in the fulfilling of God’s promises. Many generations after, their marriage produced the twelve tribes of Israel. As descendants of Isaac, their descendants inherited double portion of the blessings which Abraham had passed down to Isaac.
Isaac and Rebekah’s relationship was pivotal to the formation of the nation of Israel. The bible reports that Rebekah was generous and accommodating, bearing Isaac two sons named Esau and Jacob. When it appeared that Esau was the chosen one of God, Rebekah plotted to further the will of God that Jacob would be the one to inherit Isaac’s faithful blessing.
Recognized as the core figure of her time, Rebekah was appointed by God to fulfill a major part in the long process of bringing forth the promised seed – the Messiah. Although she was chosen as Isaac’s wife before the Messiah was promised, she became an instrument of God’s divine plan.
Rebekah’s Faithful Legacy
Rebekah’s legacy is one of steadfast faith and commitment. In spite of affliction and difficulties, the bible records her faith in God’s promises and her willingness to do what was required for them to be fulfilled.
The bible records her faithfulness in all her vocations, whether it was as Isaac’s wife and mother of Esau and Jacob, as a grandmother of Joseph and Benjamin, or as an intercessor for God’s promises. Although she pursued these roles in questionable ways in some cases, her faith remained alive in all of her duties, a reminder of God’s ultimate authority and justice.
Today, Rebekah is an example to all believers of faith, trust, and reliability. Because of her obedient persistence in all tasks, God used her as an instrument to bring His purposes and promises to fruition. May we all look to her as an encouragement to leave a faithful legacy.
Rebekah’s Relationship with Other Women
The bible records several interactions between Rebekah and other women which reveal much about her character. For example, when Rebekah and Isaac first met, she was given a gift from Eliezer’s entourage. The gift was two gold earrings and a nose ring, which she in turn gave to her brother and mother as an acknowledgement of their part in her life. This gesture demonstrated Rebekah’s discourse of kindness, generosity and gratitude toward those close to her.
Rebekah’s relationship with her maidservant, Bilhah, also shows her gentle and kind attitude. After together bearing twelve children, Bilhah was the first to be given freedom. This could be seen as a way of thanks Rebekah giving back to Bilhah who had been with her since her own times of servitude.
Rebekah’s relationship with her eldest son Esau’s wives, Adah and Basemath, is indicative of her admiration for them. On both occasions, Rebekah offered her daughters-in-law gifts as an act of kindness before blessing them.
The bible records that Rebekah had a good relationship with many women in her lifetime. The care she had for her family and her new family members, her generosity, wisdom and kindness towards them, demonstrate to all the importance of understanding the value of relationships with other women and the power of feminine solidarity.
Symbolism of Isaac’s Marriage to Rebekah
The bible narrative records many details of Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah, including the symbolism of both the bride and groom.
The bible states that when Isaac first met Rebekah, he fell in love with her beauty. While much has been made of the physical attributes of Rebekah, the bible indicates that this was not the only reason why Isaac fell in love with her.
The bible also mentions the spiritual and symbolical aspects of the union between Isaac and Rebekah. It is said that in the moment before he proposed to Rebekah, Isaac took communion with the God of Abraham, a symbol of the spiritual bond that existed between Isaac and her.
Moreover, the bible states that when Isaac and Rebekah left their immediate family, they embarked on a new journey and had to face difficult times together, an experience which deepened their bond. This
