Rebekah's Mistake

I've been wrestling with this post for a while. 

Once I put thoughts to paper, I can't pretend I don't know.

Genesis 27 tells us the story of Jacob's blessing. His father, Isaac, lie sick on his deathbed, ready to pass on the blessing to his first-born. He called to his older son, Esau, and asked him to prepare a special meal before doing so. Esau went off to hunt.

Rebekah, who is Isaac's wife, overheard the conversation and didn't like it at all. She wanted that blessing to be given to her younger son, Jacob. She called Jacob to her, instructed him to retrieve a goat that she would prepare for Isaac so that Jacob could present it and get his brother's blessing. 

Rebekah was quite the schemer. She even developed a plan to disguise Jacob as his brother, "and put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and neck." (Gen. 27:16) Despite raising several concerns about her plan, Jacob ultimately obeyed his mother and stole his brother's blessing.

What a horrible story to include in the Bible! Lying, deceit, trickery. The story reminds me of a soap opera plot, not the stuff of real life.

And then...

God whispers. He always catches me off guard when I find myself thinking, "Glad that's not me."

I realize this IS me.

When I become a "stage mom," pushing my kids one direction or another, trying to get them to do what I want rather than allowing them to be who they are. Nit-picking at Nathan before he sits at the piano -- what good does that do? Either he knows how to perform or it's too late. Or asking my kids, are you sure that you want to play with him -- what about so-and-so instead? I could go on, but really.... do you need to hear a litany of my mistakes?

Back to Rebekah: Her story ends tragically. Esau overheard Isaac blessing Jacob. He begged Isaac for his own blessing, which Isaac could not do. Esau, understandably angry, threatened Jacob's life. Rebekah overheard that and sent Jacob away. Rebekah died, years later, never to see her beloved Jacob again. (Yep, the soap opera continues.)

She paid such a terrible price, losing the one thing she loved most: Jacob. She pushed him, despite his objections. Out of love, he obeyed. But then, he was gone.

If I push too much, will I pay the same price? I don't know. AND I don't want to know.

Rebekah was imperfect. Her motives weren't always pure. Yet God used her -- and He used Jacob to do great things. That's His love. His mercy. The hope at the end of the story.

I pray that God will help me direct my kids when they need it. I ask that He help me guide and motivate, but please don't let me manipulate. When I do mess up, I know I will, cover my mistakes with Your Grace. Help me learn. Grow. Become the mom you want me to be.