When you think of your Mom, does the term Super mom seem appropriate? I think it was appropriate for my Mom, my Mother-in-law; and is fitting for my wife. The same is true for many of you who have been wonderful Moms, and some of you who are actively involved in being super moms. Certainly we who have Judaeo-Christian values realize that motherhood is a high calling from God. Even though women may very capably have other careers too, none is higher than that of wife, mother, and household executive.

Frequently on Mother's Day we may have the tendency of comparing moms of today with super moms found in the Bible. Pastors may be somewhat responsible for this as we speak about Mary, the mother of Jesus, Jochobed, mother of Moses, Hannah, mother of Samuel, or the virtuous woman of whom Solomon wrote in Proverbs. While they were human beings, we generally consider them wonderful mothers. On this Mother's Day, I would like to have us focus our attention for a few minutes on Rebekah who might not be on our top ten list of Super moms. As we look at her life let's consider God's Plans, Rebekah's Plans and how God put it all together.

Also note, on this Pentecost Sunday, the importance of yielding to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us and use us.

I. Plan of God

Recall that God had told Abraham that he would be the Father of a multitude of nations. This news came about after Abram and Sarah had been without any children and were advanced in years. These fine Senior citizens couldn't understand how God could keep this promise. Of course, God did, and at the age of 90 Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac.

After Sarah's death, Isaac was approaching forty years of age, and was still unmarried. For God to continue to fulfill His promise to Abraham one would expect that Isaac should get married and have some children. Abraham asked his most trusted servant to make an oath to him and to God that he should take a long trip back to the country of Abraham's relatives to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a woman among the unbelieving Canaanites where they were living and he did not want Isaac to go back near his relatives to live. God had sent Abraham from his homeland to give him and his descendants a new land.

What a great story it is as we see the plan of God continue to unfold. This servant faithfully took off on a long journey of several hundred miles from Hebron to Nachor in Mesopotamia. He parked his camels near the city well in the evening when women came to draw water and he prayed. Read vv. 12-14.

Before the servant had time to finish speaking a beautiful young woman came with a water jar. He asked, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar." She not only gave him a drink, but she watered his camels too - just as he had prayed that the woman to become Isaac's wife would do. The servant presented the young lady with gifts of a gold ring and bracelets. He also asked whose daughter she was and if her family would have room for him to lodge. Rebekkah told him she was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. She replied, "We have plenty of both straw and feed and room to lodge in."

Notice then (v. 26) The servant of Abraham bowed his head and worshiped the Lord. I believe this should also be our response when we see God's plan unfolding. He prayed, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His loving kindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brothers.

Rebekkah ran home and told her family what had happened and her brother Laban went to the well and welcomed the servant of Abraham to come home with him. Laban unloaded the camels, gave them straw and extended the usual courtesy of washing the feet of his guest.

Before Abraham would eat the meat set before him he said, "I will not eat until I have told my business." So he told them why he was there. Then he asked whether or not they would deal kindly with Abraham to take their daughter to become Isaac's wife.

Rebekkah's father and brother answered, "The matter comes from the Lord; so we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekkah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken. Again, the servant bowed down before the Lord. How exciting it is to see the plan of God. Rebekkah was chosen by God to be the wife of Isaac and the mother of their children. Having primarily focused our attention on the plan of Gods we continue the story seeing the plan of Rebekkah.

II. Plan of Rebekah

After giving their consent, believing it was the plan of God for Rebekah to go to become Isaac's wife, the next morning her mother and brother asked if Rebekah could stay with them ten days before going. From the perspective of the bride's family, I don't think that was an unreasonable request, do you? However, the servant did not want to be delayed. They decided to call Rebekah and consult her wishes. Will you go with this man and she said, "I will go." They blessed her and sent her and her nurse on the way with Abraham's servant.

Rebekah chose to submit her will to the will of God. What a great choice for a follower of God. It was the right choice for this virgin who was to become the wife of Isaac.

While Isaac was meditating in the field toward evening he lifted his eyes and saw camels coming. Rebekah got off her camel and met Isaac. The servant told Isaac the wonderful things God had done. Isaac loved Rebekah and she became his wife. This is another good step for a godly woman. They had to wait twenty more years, after Isaac on behalf of his childless wife before she became a mother. Then she had twins, Esau and Jacob who struggled within her womb before they were born.

You may recall the Bible story of these brothers as famished Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal of stew and bread. The tension which began in Rebekah's womb continued. The fact that Esau was loved my by his father and Jacob was loved more by his mother made matters only worse. Hence, the next sad story, actually the story for which this not so super mom is often known, a story that takes place a little later in their lives. We read about it in chapter 27.

It is a story of deception. Isaac was old and blind. He called Esau, the older of his twin sons to him and told him he did not know the day of his death. He asked him to take bow and quiver of arrows and go hunt game for him. Then Isaac wanted Esau to prepare the savory food that he loved so he could bless his older son before he died. Rebekah overheard the conversation and told Jacob about it. She had a plan to trick Isaac into giving his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau. Rebekah instructed her favorite son to go to the flock and bring her two choice young goats so that she could prepare them the way her husband enjoyed them. Jacob would then take the savory food to his Father and receive his Father's blessing.

At first Jacob told his mother that this would not work, that his father couldn't be fooled that easily. "Esau is hairy and I am smooth skinned. If he thinks I am making a fool out of him he will curse me." His mother insisted that he do as she instructed. Jacob killed the goats and Rebekah prepared a sumptuous meal. She told Jacob to put on Esau's best clothes and she put goat skin on his hands and neck. With this disguise Jacob took the tasty meal of meat and bread.

Isaac asked which son he was since he could not see. Jacob answered, "Esau, your firstborn." Isaac asked how he found the game so quickly and Jacob replied, "Because the Lord your God granted me success. Isaac then asked him to come closer so he could feel him and know whether or not it was really Esau. Isaac felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's but the hands are the hands of Esau." Isaac must have been a little confused and asked, "Are you really my son, Esau?" Jacob answered, "I am." He brought his dad the delicious meal and received the blessing Isaac intended to give Esau. When Esau returned Isaac discovered that he had been deceived.

The plans of Rebekah which we saw earlier in her life beautifully illustrate yielding to God. However, now in this story her plans develop into her scheming and conniving for her favorite son. Does this disqualify her as a super mom? I hope not. She sinned. She deceived. She was not perfect. But Mary, Hannah, Jochobed made mistakes too. However, those mothers are probably not most remembered for an incident such as Rebekah is.

How about our super moms? I think we have some wonderful moms here today. But they are not perfect. They can still be great mothers, especially when they yield to the plan of God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.

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