Rebecca, Isaac’s wife and a mother of twins enters the story in Genesis 24 as a decisive, resourceful woman demonstrating her hospitality and agency when she offers water to Issak. They fall in love, and eventually, after being unable to conceive for years, she becomes pregnant with Esau and Jacob. During her pregnancy, she feels the twins struggling within her and seeks God’s guidance directly (Genesis 25:22–23). God reveals that two nations are in her womb, and “the older will serve the younger,” and based on this Rebecca orchestrates Jacob’s deception of Isaac to secure the blessing meant for Esau, the firstborn.
Although she succeeds in fulfilling the revelation, Isaac blesses Jacob, the family is affected in a negative way. Esau threatens to kill Jacob, and Rebecca sends Jacob away to her brother Laban knowing she might never see him away.
What Rebecca Might Say to Contemporary Women About Motherhood
“Motherhood is complex, believe me, I know. You have to be attuned to your children’s destinies, protect them and find strategies to follow what intuition tells you about God’s plan. However, be mindful of your actions! It is tempting to manipulate and favour one child over the other. My preference for Jacob was motivated by the divine prophecy, However, I never told him about what God revealed to me when I carried them in my womb. He might have listened to me then, but instead, I deceived my husband and intervened, bypassing cultural norms favouring Esau as the firstborn. I decided to trust my intuition and prioritise a higher purpose over harmony in the family. I loved Jaco more, while Isaak preferred Esau.
When I guided Jacob to leave home, I did it because I was a pragmatic mother. I was not just waiting passively and hoping for God’s promise to unfold. I had to take action and be willing to take risks. I was willing to bend the rules because I sincerely believed in Jacob’s potential. I must warn you, though, that intense maternal investment in one child comes with a cost. Favouritism always has consequences—it leads to division.
I must also warn you against acting alone without consulting your husband. I do not mean to tell you that being spiritually independent and seeking God’s guidance as a mother from the moment of conception is to be discouraged. It might help you to make decisions but it is better to be emotionally connected to your spouse and make decisions together, not in isolation.
My message to you is to seek God’s wisdom to guide you. Your role as a mother is to seek unity with the father of your children and see them all from God’s point of view - not to overlook one child when loving the other fiercely.”
Rebecca’s story resonates with me because it addresses the need to find a balance between fostering individuality and maintaining family cohesion. Psychologically, she exemplifies a mother driven by purpose and intuition, yet she is an example of the ripple effects of bias and overreach. For today’s women, she might inspire courage to advocate for their children’s potential while cautioning against letting that advocacy affect marital relationships or ethics.
