Isaac married Rebekah who was the second cousin to him. She being a virgin and whom no man had known was very beautiful (Gen 24:16). She is considered as the second of the biblical matriarchs in the salvation history.
Through twenty years of marriage, they had no children since Rebekah was barren just like Sarah. Because Isaac pleaded with the Lord for a child from Rebekah, God answered his prayer. Rebekah conceived and gave birth to twin sons: Esau and Jacob who were the first twins mentioned in the Bible. The story of the birth of twin sons is explained by the oracle in the book of Genesis in terms of the later conflict of Israel and Edom (Gen 25; 23). Since the twins struggled together within her, she said “if it is to be this way, why do I live?” So when she inquired of the Lord, He said to her, “The 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 other will serve the younger.” (Gen 25: 23). And hence, from Esau and Jacob came two conflicting nations.
If we reflect on the personalities of Sarah (wife of Abraham) and her daughterin-law Rebekah, we can find some similarities between them. Sarai died before Isaac took his bride, Rebekah. Thus, they never had a chance to meet each other. But they had much in common. Both women were sometimes good examples of wives who follow the path of God even though they had no idea about the plan of God.
Just as Sarah followed God together with Abraham out into the unknown without so much as an explanation when Abraham heard from the Lord, Rebekah was heading into the unknown too. Rebekah followed the trusted servant of Abraham (Eliezer) to become the wife of Isaac her relative, whom she didn’t even know. Rebekah didn’t even question the Lord’s plan, but simply travelled to distant Canaan to marry Isaac in faith and courage.
With the oracle that she received from God due to the struggling nature of her two sons in her womb, Rebekah was aware that the plan of God would be channeled through Jacob, not Esau (Gen 25: 23). So not only that Jacob became her favorite son, she also planned ways and means to ensure that he would overshadow his older son Esau. This would have created a conflict between her and Isaac since he had the intention to give his patriarchal blessing to Esau, his first born. Yet, Rebekah deceived Isaac when the time came to bless their two sons and even felt justified in deceiving him. And her genius plan was carried out to perfection. Before the twins were born, Rebekah was told “The older will serve the younger” in order that the Lord’s purposes in election might stand, not by works, but by Him who calls (Rom 9: 11). And so, the doctrine of election shows us that it is the choice of God to save us not by our own merits, but by His goodness and mercy.
Although the death of the nurse of Rebekah is mentioned in Genesis, the death of Rebekah herself is not stated explicitly (Gen 35:8). Yet, it is stated that she was buried at Machkelah with Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac (Gen 49:31).
— Fr. Niranjan Rodrigo, Ph.D.
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