Copyright 2010 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Manipulation: exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one’s own advantage; fudge: tamper, with the purpose of deception; control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to one’s advantage.
People will attempt to manipulate a blessing from your life in this season. Be watchful, don’t let the spirit of manipulation that grabbed hold of Rebekah pervert your destiny and steal your blessing. We are a DISCERNING PEOPLE.
We are NOT BLIND like Isaac was in that season, but overwhelmed by Holy Spirit. Trust the pull on the inside of you that says, “Move slow. Don’t jump into this. Get counsel. Don’t rush to make a decision. Listen to what is not being said.” Even hold fast to that check you get in your spirit that says, “Something here is just not right.”
I tell you, REBEKAH is on the move in this season… and willing to do ANYTHING to MANIPULATE HER DESTINY. What the Lord wants you to see is that if you stand close to him, she will lose her power. Why? Because the light in you will EXPOSE HER PLOY! You will learn to RESIST HER.
Take a look at Rebekah in operation.
Genesis 27
1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4 And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.
And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.
Rebekah is a MASTER at TWISTING YOUR WORDS! She is a MASTER at convincing you that something really IS when it is not. REBEKAH BELIEVES HER OWN DECEPTION. EVERYONE around her is the problem, and she is always the victim. REBEKAH BELIEVED that it was her responsibility to set right what she “perceived” to be wrong. She attempts to take on the role of Holy Spirit in the lives of those around her.
You see, Rebekah knew that A SPECIAL ANOINTING was about to fall on Esau. (How many of you are about to walk under the blessings of the Lord right now! Who’s watching you to see what they can get or how they can benefit from your blessing? Who wants to see you FALL and undermine the relationships in your life.) She didn’t want Esau to have it. She wanted her son Jacob to receive it. So she took INFORMATION that she HEARD and USED IT FOR PERSONAL GAIN. Manipulators use their “perception or observations; nuggets from conversations” and whatever they can grab hold of to use for their personal benefit. There are people who have MASTERED MANIPULATION — and are in denial concerning their own condition. They are so good at it that you need great discernment to catch them in the act; and many of them are in great denial. Take a look at HOW Rebekah manipulated this situation. People of God, Rebekah is smooth. Unless you have a keen eye, YOU WILL MISS HER in action and wonder what in the world happened when its all over. Take a look at this.
Rebekah says in the scripture, “Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.”
Look at how Rebekah manipulated that situation! She used her authority as a mother and made a demand on this young man, her son, – which left no room for him to reject her request. Did Rebekah lie? Not directly. But she didn’t tell the whole story which is the same as a lie. One of the key strategies of a manipulator is to tell you JUST ENOUGH to get you to believe what they are saying. They are so cunning that what they speak is factual; but what they leave out is what brings truth!
People use Jezebel all the time to talk about control and manipulation.
But I tell you what, WE KNEW Jezebel was a daughter of satan. There was absolutely no doubt about it. We knew what to expect from JEZEBEL in her arrogance and boldness. JEZEBEL was not hidden from us, but fully operating in her EVIL without remorse.
However, no one was prepared for REBEKAH. So she didn’t come to the people of God pretending to be one of the sheep. SHE WAS one of the sheep — being manipulated in the hands of the enemy. Rebekah wasn’t some wayward person NO ONE KNEW. Rather, she was THE MOTHER who knew how to use her authority, influence, beauty, assumed spiritual authority… to SEDUCE her son into sin. I know that’s hard to wrap our heads around, but this is what is happening in many circles around us. Rebekah NEEDS DELIVERANCE. It’s the REBEKAHS that we must watch out for now — in men and in women. There are SHEEP OUT THERE who are wearing WOLVES CLOTHING and are in need of Holy Spirit’s healing touch!
We need to be aware and we need to be warned.
Part II: Characteristics of a Manipulator
Part III: Delivering Rebekah
