Presenting The Ladies.

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon. Genesis 12:11

And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. Genesis 24:60

When we consider the word mankind, we must recognize the fact that it means men and women, boys and girls. It looks to me like everybody is included, in the word mankind. We cannot have one without the other.

In the order of creation, God created the man first. This does not mean that he was more important, it only means that God put things in a certain order. The picture of order is quite evident in the creation of earth. The Bible tells us that the earth was without form, and void. It was dark. One of God’s first commandments was: “Let there be light.”

Putting things in proper order is much easier if I can see where they are to be placed. I will imagine for a moment that I am a librarian. My task is to arrange a massive array of books on shelves. Not only, do I need to place them on shelves, but they are to be placed in alphabetical order. Although it may take some time, I think that I can handle the job.

Now, here is the assignment with a few conditions added. Condition number one: It has to be done after midnight. Condition number two: It will be done in the dark. The reason for this, is that the city has experienced a power failure. The final request is, that by morning the task is to be complete. I know that my response would be something like this: “Thanks, but no thanks. You'll have to find yourself another boy.”

I realize that God could have created everything, without the use of light of any kind. However, God did create us to need light to carry out certain tasks. God shows us order,

The record of the Bible shows us that in the periscope of time, someone special would appear. Jesus Christ is that person. Not only, was He scheduled to appear, but in time, His task was to begin to prepare a bride, (the church) a lady.

At the beginning God created: heaven, earth, the balance of creation, and man. God knew that the man would be lonely if he had no companion: So he brought the lady onto the scene. God never intended the two to be two, but one. It was to be a combined entity: Just like the man Christ Jesus, and the church (His bride).

Writing a book on Christ and the bride (the church), and all the matters of why the order of things is important, would probably be easy. That is not my intent in this book. I have only tried to show a little bit of how having order is important. Ladies, please do not feel unimportant, because God made man first.

One scripture that I know would even lend credence to being created second. It may be a little out of context here, but I will risk it: “Nevertheless, many that are first will be last; and the last shall be first.” Matthew 19:31 .I will use this passage as one to give encouragement to the ladies. They also have a role to play in God's order of things, along with the man.

It may appear as though I am chasing rabbits in the early portion of this chapter, please forgive me this time. My intention is to set the stage, so that people will notice the entrance of the ladies for what it is: One of the most important things God created. Laying the groundwork for building a complex is essential. Setting the props for a stage production is also vital.

When God had finished creating the world and everything in it, He sat back and said it was very good. God then placed that lovely creation, the woman, into the picturesque garden. As He placed her beside the man, I see the man saying:

As she begins to focus her eyes after her arrival, Eve sees Adam. Let us allow ourselves to use a bit of the vocabulary of our day, and insert it into the mouth of this first lady. If we do that, we may hear these startling words: “WHAT A HUNK!”

Personally, I have been around long enough to have over heard a few remarks by both men and women: Remarks that may shock some of you. I have seen the eyes of a man pop out at the sight of a physically attractive lady.

My observational receivers (my eyes), have also noted the ladies responding with words that may shock a few men. The picture in my mind is this: The Garden of Eden, is presented as a beauty pageant. Eden is the place where God presented His best to us. Placing the heritage of Jacob in this context is beneficial for me.

Considerable detail has already been articulated, about Abraham and Isaac. The character of Jacob, or for that matter, that of our own, started in the Garden of Eden. It did not begin with Abraham and Isaac. If we were to look at history in this light, we would see much more than the surface revelations of people.

Most of the time when a child is born people are trying to figure out who in the world it looks like. People usually say: “It looks like the mother, or it looks like the father.” We have all heard people say: “The child looks like the parent, or the grandparent.”

It is a sure bet, that a baby’s looks can be intrusted to him or her through birth. We can be sure that the traits of the parents are inbred as well. Children are not carbon copies, they develop some individual characteristics.

The point I would like to make is this: Jacob did not only get all his good and bad characteristics, from Abraham and Isaac alone. A couple of ladies, which they knew, had some participation.

Sarah was Jacob's grandmother. From all the scriptures that I find in Genesis, I understand her to be a woman that would turn a few heads. Abraham told her that she was beautiful. I wonder if he told her very often. One instance in which he told her that she was beautiful, was when he needed a favour. He needed her to tell a little white lie.

When Abraham went to Egypt, he was afraid that Sarah's beauty would turn the Pharaoh's head, and possibly cost him his head. When I read chapter 12 of Genesis, Genesis 12: I realize that Sarah must have complied with Abe's wishes. I see here that she was a woman that he could depend upon, when the chips were down. I would say that she stood by her man.

It is evident to me, as we look at life, that many times this characteristic of a woman made the marriage relationship a good one. It was not because the woman cowered in the presence of her man; she honoured God in this manner. In a good relationship, this action of a woman also causes the man to respect a woman. Now, we have at least one picture of a relationship where the two people become one.

On the other side of this issue, we find adverse results: Where men and women do not respect each other. The world is full of examples of this type of relationships as well. The key elements to success, require a bit of cooperation from both parties. Someone has to make the first move.

I realize, that to often it has been the lady who has had to show her hand first. I believe that this is one of the finest qualities that God has placed within the heart of women. A woman who can accept a role such as this, is number one for sure.

The Bible tells us that the man is to be the head of the home, as Christ is the head of the church (Bride, lady). Reading it from Ephesians 5, is imperative at this point. Before going any further, take special note of the later part of the chapter, from verse 21-33 Epheasians 5:21-33 .

In order for both men and women to see their proper role of conduct, reference essential. One thing for both men and women to realize, is that neither position is superior, nor inferior. Abraham was a man who realized that working together was beneficial. When he was concerned for his life at the hands of Pharaoh, he did not command Sarah to lie for him: He asked her to do it. I think she did it because she loved him. She spoke her mind when she felt that doing so was necessary. (see Genesis 16). Genesis 16

In the culture of Biblical times, being childless left a mark on the character of a woman. Being childless was not a comfortable position to be in. Sarah felt the sting of this embarrassment for many years. She should not have been in despair about it. God had promised to give her a child. Sarah should have remembered the old matter of trusting that God would deliver the goods: Which He promised to deliver. Well, Sarah devised a plan that would cause the birth of a child for her hubby. It would not be hers, but at least Abraham would have a child to carry on the family name. That was the key to the whole matter. A son had to be born to Abraham. Any other plan was no good.

The problem that arose was this: Sarah did not consult God about the matter. Sarah had gotten a wrong number. Though Sarah’s heart was in the right place, a problem existed with what Sarah had done. She did not want Abraham to look bad among his peers. This is the admirable trait that I observe. The name Sarah means: Princess

Princess is a name that gives one a sense of dignity. Imagine for a moment, Abraham coming home from a hard day out on the field. He walks into the tent and he sees Sarah. He could see her as just plain Jane, or he could see her as a princess. If he saw her as a princess, she could have him eating out of her hand.

I see a bit of a parallel in the fact of Sarah having her name changed from Sari, to Sarah (princess). The parallel I see, is in what Jacob had his name changed to. Jacob went from being a deceiver to: PRINCE WITH GOD.

I find no record for what the name Sari means: But in my sometimes bent way of trying to sort things out, I wonder if it did not mean, deceiver. Sarah was manipulative in the way she tried to help God.

What happened was, that Sarah gave her servant to her husband: So that he could have a child by her. It was common practice in those days for this to happen. It was after this affair that Abraham got his name: It used to be Abram. It was also after this affair that Sari became Sarah: Princess.

When I use the word affair, I do not mean for it to sound like an act of immorality. Hagar, Sarah’s maid, became a wife of Abraham. This meant that she now would have to share the relationship she had with her husband.

Sarah must have been a bit naive to think her maid would still be meek and mild after she gave birth: When she could not conceive for her own husband. Hagar wasted little time to rub it in the face of Sarah. Sarah had some clout in her relationship with Abe. When she laid out the problem to her husband, he said: “Do what you have to do to give yourself peace of mind over the issue.” Well Sarah did just that. She just made it unbearable for her maid to stick around. As a result, Hagar leaves home. Later Hagar came back at the request of God. In due process, Sarah did conceive the promised child.

Again, the issue of the other woman and her son, presented itself. Again, Sarah threw her weight around. She had the woman kicked out. Tell me, does that sound as if Sarah were meek and mild? I don’t think so! She had a deep regard for her husband; she also spoke up when she had a problem with a given situation.

It is almost unbelievable, how God could take a person who is so self willed and unkind at times, and say: Come here Princess, I love you. If that were not in the heart of God, I cannot see him calling her princess: Can you?

Sarah had beauty and charm, and honoured others. She was self willed and cruel, and a whole lot of other things as well. Keep her at the forefront of your thoughts as we continue. See how many of those similarities Sarah transferred to Jacob.

Watch closely for every possible connection. The purpose of history is to allow us to make connections with the past. We are compiling a considerable amount of history from which to learn. Sarah is about to leave the set. Nevertheless, before she does, hear this. “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many.” . Isaiah 5:1-2

In this short passage I see a vivid, full length novel. I see that looking back at our roots is important. Nobody is here just to look out for themselves. We are all individual in many ways, but that is something that can cause us to impart something of value into someone else’s life.

Sarah’s name is mentioned with the same importance as that of Abraham. Scripture also goes on to say that out of this union, they built nations. From beginning to end, we all fit together into a gigantic picture puzzle. We are of no value as individual pieces of that puzzle.

I could have elaborated on many other things regarding Sarah. Nevertheless, I think we can pick up some of those things in her daughter-in-law. We do not want to pass over another important lady.

I consider the ladies in the Bible, as important as the men of the Bible. Many of these women would enhance the scene that we are painting. Because of the subject I am dealing with, I will only include two of them at this point. One of these ladies of distinction has already played some of her parts. Her name was Sarah, “Princess.”

Another lady of distinction that I would like to take a serious look at, is Rebekah. As we observe some of her life, we will also look at the meaning of her name. The pictures displayed in the meaning of her name are quite interesting. Nevertheless, before we go on to explore those avenues in the life of Rebekah, we should observe what she was like when she first entered the scene.

I am going to set up some props here on the stage of life. Someone once said: “The world is a stage.” If this is the case, we need some props to illustrate the scenes. On the platform of the set, I am placing a grove of trees around a well. Along with the well, is an assortment of animals. To finish off the scene, I have reinforced the set with some people. Some of them are busy drawing water, while others are just lazily conversing with one another.

After looking around for a time, I sense that most of the folks are locals. It appears that others may be travellers from afar. One such traveller is a man who has quite a convoy of camels and men in his party. As he approaches the well, he does so with an air of expectancy. The man in question is the servant of Father Abraham. His orders are to retrieve a certain woman to be the wife of his son Isaac.

When I take a close look at the traveller, I see a look of concern on his face, as to whether or not he can fulfill the request of his master. He is concerned enough to ask God to guide him to the right young lady. At first glance he cannot seem to find anyone who he considers to be a contender for the position of takeout bride for his Master’s son.

As he stands there trying to look inconspicuous, Eliezer sees a young lady approaching the well, to fill her pitchers with water. Her approach is kind of in a hop, skip, and a jump attitude. She is carefree and happy in her appearance.

Not quite knowing whom to approach at first, Abraham’s servant waits for a considerable amount of time. Because of the fact that he was away from his home territory, it was imperative that he should be careful with which young woman he made conversation. It is a possibility that this young lady at the well, may be seriously connected to one the men gathered around the well. Nevertheless, after this young woman had drawn sufficient water for her needs, Abraham's servant decides to make his pitch. He approaches her and says, “Please let me have a little water from your pitcher.”

It was a simple request. Rebekah could have answered it in any one of several ways. Upon hearing the man's plea for water, she said: “Drink my lord, . . . I will get water for your camels too, till they have finished drinking.”

Now, this is exactly the reply that the servant was hoping to hear. Rebekah must have surveyed the situation for at least a moment, before she said: Come to my father’s house, Rebekah was a young lady who was eager to please. It appears to me as though she was willing to go the extra mile to help someone. She had an excellent attitude. I am not so sure that all the women were just that eager to satisfy a perfect stranger. Nevertheless, this young person had been set apart at the request of Abraham's servant.

Let us recall the time when God told Abraham to get up and go into a land that was yet unknown to him. The man picked up his baggage and went. I see something special about our lady in waiting. It shows me a willingness to obey, in the same way that Abraham did.

The stage is set with Rebekah, her brother and other family members. The meeting taking place, revolves around the issue of Rebekah returning with Abraham's servant: To become the bride of his son. Picture yourself in this scenario. Someone says: Do you want to go on a blind date?

My initial thought concerning a blind date would be, “What is my chance of a good catch?” I am not only referring to looks when I say this. Some people just do not hit it off together. In a flash of daring, responding with a quick yes might be easy.

Apprehension is one thing I would struggle with, while I went through the stages of preparation. I would wonder: Will this be my dream come true? When I put my imagination to work, it is easy to see some thoughts that were going through the mind of Rebekah. Finally, the men around the fire call Rebekah, and ask her this question:“Will you go with this man?”

I am beginning to notice a touch of daring in Rebekah. Maybe I could call it that measure of faith. She gives an immediate response. “I will go.”

Rebekah was still young and innocent. She was flirtatious with what life had to offer. I think she was excited at the thought of exploring the unseen. Maybe she had the same measure of the faith that Abraham had at the beginning.

I do not know if she asked a whole lot of searching questions about all that would happen if she went. What I see, is a readiness to comply when God calls. So far, Rebekah has positively impressed me.

Until this point in time, we have seen some of these same characteristics in Sarah. Beauty, gentleness, kindness, and a host of other good things, were a part of Rebekah’s makeup. She is from a well to do family. She had a nurse, and maids.

When Rebekah arrived at the destination that had been arbitrarily charted for her, she laid eyes on her blind date. As she approaches the man that she has come all this way to marry, Rebekah covers her face in a display of modesty. We can visualize what it must have been like.

Much of what I write is based on how it might have been in real life back then. As I write about people and life then, I try to compare it with the mind-set of people in our culture. Every detail of a person's thoughts and intentions, is not made clear in the Bible.

Many issues represented in Old Testament times are the same as those we face today. The words may have been different, but I think the feelings within were much the same. We need to reset the props on the stage of life from time to time. On one side of the giant stage I see a field, hills, and the sight of a man focussing on something approaching his domain. On the other side of the set, we have some camels, men and women, and an assortment of items which are stowed by a person on the move.

Two people with high expectations about each other, are about to meet. Everything in the whole scene has been left up to the stage hands to arrange. A servant, of all people, managed the whole set.

The decisive moment has arrived, and the man of the hour is Isaac. The lady in waiting is Rebekah. When Isaac sees her, I can see him running out to his servant and saying: “Man, you did a good job!”

Try to paint a picture of what Becky is thinking. It may sound like this: “Yea, this guy is not so bad!” Admitting these kinds of thoughts aloud might not have been proper, for fear of being looked upon badly. These thoughts do exist in the mind of many people.

By looking at the story in the Bible, (Genesis 24) Genesis 24 we will see this to be the case. Here we can get all the details. The space to tell every part of the story that has relevance to this

I have seen many admirable things in the character of our star. She may be the woman of everybody's dreams. She has distinctly captured the heart of the co_star, Isaac.

In the closing scene of this production, I want to see how powerfully affected this man of historical significance was: At the hands of the lovely lady. As we raise the curtain for the final scene of act two, we see a wedding taking place. Laughter, and merry making are the dominant scenes, but the story line is set back in a corner.

Apart from the exuberance of the moment, I see another scene depicted. I see a man and a woman, embraced in true love. I am talking about something other than an act of immorality. As they look into each other's eyes, I can literally feel the love they share. What Rebekah was to Isaac, is hard to put into words.

As the curtain begins to fall, I read these words: “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.” Genesis 24:67

Earlier on, I said that I wanted to look at what the name Rebekah meant. She did not have her name changed, as did Sarah. Recall with me that Sarah's name meant “Princess.” The word Rebekah means “ a rope, or noose.”

Initially, these words sound harsh to me. The tough phrase, “a rope, or noose” leads me to envision someone who captures another with their beauty. Rebekah had a way that attracted people. It happened at the well when the servant was searching for a wife for Isaac, and it happened when Isaac first saw the one who was to be his wife.

I am not going to elaborate on the words that describe hername right now. I have got a reason to keep this for another portion in the book. So watch for it later.

Give me the power to attach a meaning to the name Rebekah: Let my temptation finish the task, and I will say the name Rebekah means: Comforter.

At this stage in her life, she literally became comfort in a human body, for a person who was in need. Isaac was a man in serious need during this time. Rebekah will also prove to have a darker side to her character: As it seems many of us do. She will play an integral part in the life of Jacob.