Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
This is the final part of the series on, The Spirit of Rebekah: Master Manipulator, that I began several years ago. However, this post is long. To read this article series in context, please check out: The Spirit of Rebekah: Master Manipulator Part I and The Spirit of Rebekah: Master Manipulator Part II. Please note that all of my articles are based on clarity given to me in my prayer time from situations I have lifted before God. I share these articles and experiences in hope that those assigned to them gain answers and instructions along their journey.
Can Rebekah be delivered?
YES! She can. The first step to Rebekah’s deliverance, however, depends on her ability to SEE, IDENTIFY, ACKNOWLEDGE & OWN her own sin. Then, her heart must be tempered for repentance and healing. Getting to this place is often difficult for someone operating in the Spirit of Rebekah because they believe themselves to be a “type of Holy Spirit” – someone with the complete vision of God who has been sent by his design. They have locked themselves into a very warped view of who they are in the spirit – often esteeming themselves as apostles and prophets.
Take a look at this conversation Jacob had with Rebekah, his mother. We have to go in this direction to truly outline God’s heart of deliverance. This scenario provides some insight into how this manipulative spirit responds when exposed.
Genesis 27:11-17 CJB, “But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Listen, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man. Suppose my father feels me; I will seem to him to be a cheat and an imposter, and I will bring [his] curse on me and not [his] blessing. But his mother said to him, on ME be your curse, my son; only obey my word and go, fetch them to me.
Jacob, who had now entered into Rebekah’s deception like so many of God’s people, knew what they were about to do was evil. Come on now people of God! Yet, Rebekah’s evil spirit had so infiltrated and influenced his spirit that he was going along with the plan. What’s even more amazing here is that Rebekah even agreed “to take on the responsibility for their actions.” Wow! She literally said, “Let the curse be on me” as if this was some kind of noble act.
How many people of God have pulled you into a plot against others and convinced YOU that y’all were “higher work” together.
So when Jacob asked her about the flaws in her diabolical scheme to deceive Isaac, she quickly had a deceptive answer prepared and was “ready to handle” the situation. You see, Rebekah IS BRILLIANT in scheming and well AWARE of her actions. She is also fully prepared to see them through – as long as she lurks in the shadows unexposed. Notice how Rebekah manipulates behind the scenes – but is never “out front.” This is method of operation is critical to her success.
She enjoys the role of observer, reporter and accuser which is unlike her counterpart Jezebel who is often open, loud and in your face. Rebekah’s skill set lies in leaving you with the cookie crumbs around your mouth and the icing on your fingers – when she was the one who joyfully handed you the cookie and the cake slice. The scripture says it this way:
So [Jacob] went, got [the kids], and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared appetizing meat with a delightful odor, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took her elder son Esau’s best clothes which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And she put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. And she gave the savory meat and the bread which she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob.”
People of God, look at how Rebekah gracefully walked out her deceit! She prepared a table that looked good, smelled good and tasted good! She even “borrowed” Esau’s best clothes which she kept in her own house for him due to their perceived intimate relationship. The question is this: “What has Rebekah been storing up in her HOUSE to put on you?”
Here’s what you can do to help facilitate deliverance in Rebekah’s life?
- Confront her alone. Forgiveness and reconciliation is always at the very heart of God’s plan for people. If you have an organized ministry or congregation, more than likely this means you are mature and have developed a heart to forgive and to love as Christ’s loved us. This doesn’t mean you are a pushover. Let’s not get the love of God twisted! But it does mean you’re your approach to Rebekah must be from the perspective of an ambassador of reconciliation. Immaturity won’t understand this approach.
Remember, Rebekah likes causing “other people to confront you” but would never do it herself. As you continue to read about all that transpired following Rebekah’s deception, Jacob was left holding the bag when Esau found out what he did. What’s worse is that Rebekah looked innocent in the whole matter, and Esau wanted Jacob dead! Wow! Instead of owning her part in the whole mess LIKE SHE SAID SHE WOULD, she remained silent and then ran back to tell Jacob that Esau wanted him dead.
Rebekah was never confronted! But she does reveal one of the motives behind her actions. Take a look at Genesis 27:46 AMP. When all is said and done, she says coyly: “Then Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth [these wives of Esau]! If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth such as these Hittite girls around here, what good will my life be to me.” Rebekah did this to get Jacob away from the daughters of Heth whom she was having trouble with.
The right way to handle this is to confront Rebekah. Allow her to reveal her motive against you. Confrontation brings exposure! It tells Rebekah she’s been found out. It also allows you to state the sins done against you and walk in the new covenant restoration process.
Matthew 18:15 AMP says, “If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.”
- Bring the issue before others. This, people of God is a biggie! I’m going to tell you this: Because of Rebekah’s self-righteousness and self-justification, she probably won’t own up to any wrong doing. In addition, be prepared for her to “turn things back on you” to make it look like “you can’t see the real issue. People of God: STAND YOUR GROUND. DO NOT ALLOW HER TO TRANSER ON YOU! She’s a master a “switch-a-roo-the-problem-is-you.” Bring her before others in an attempt to work it out. (In my experiences in ministry, Rebekah will seldom agree to this – even if the ground is neutral. If she does, please know that God has touched her heart.) The idea here is to facilitate the confession of sin, enter into prayer and allow the spirit of forgiveness, healing and restoration to have its way.
Only through confession of sin, each person owning their part, can Holy Spirit enter in to bring deliverance and healing from all the hurt, pain, confusion and chaos caused by this stronghold.
Matthew 18:16 AMP says, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”
- Let it and Rebekah go! If there is no resolution after taking it to this measure, the Lord will continue to direct you. In my own life and ministry, I found myself in this situation two times in all my years of ministry. Both times, I cried out to God and asked him to supernaturally sever all unhealthy and ungodly relationships from life. This doesn’t mean that this person is the “devil” – it just means that this person is being influenced by the enemy and isn’t a healthy influence in your life or your ministry environment. Please know that GOD LOVES THAT PERSON as much as He loves you. He desires your pain, frustration and/or torment to end; and freedom for Rebekah.
You may also need to let Rebekah go! Yes, this is BIBLICAL! I’m not talking about a cut-throat cut-off full of bitterness. Rather, I am speaking of removing unhealthy influences from your life to preserve your love walk, preserve your peace and maintain your forgiveness. It is OKAY to tell Rebekah, “This isn’t working out. I think a time of separation in the midst of this relationship would be good.” Many times, however, at the pressure of “coming before the group” to work it out, Rebekah will leave! God will move on that person’s heart to walk away.
Matthew 18:17 AMP says, “If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to YOU as a pagan and a tax collector.”
Please read this passage of scripture! We have been taught that we have to sleep in the bed with our murderers and accusers! Christ NEVER taught this. YOU CAN AND MUST sever manipulative relationships from your life or they will COST YOU your life.
As a pastor and leader, I have had to CLEAN UP the fall-out from Rebekah on at least two occasions in the midst of the ministry entrusted to me. I have had to bring the assembly together and make them aware of what has taken place AS THE BIBLE SAYS! Then, I’ve had to walk away – not out of meanness, hatred, unforgiveness… but out of SELF PRESERVATION! There are people who have slept with Rebekah that may also end up leaving just like Jacob left – caught up in the lie when they were a casualty as well! Those casualties, like Jacob, might return to you. But Rebekah, due to her unrepentance and blindness, might very well die there.
Rebekah’s deliverance will only come when the root to the “master manipulation, control and deceit” is uncovered, and she acknowledges her sinful condition! Period. That brokenness, as we can see from Rebekah’s motive in Genesis 27:46, will stem from some deep level of rejection, abandonment, a victimized mindset, competition and a hidden, vicious jealousy.
People of God, you have a right to:
- Pray for deliverance. Continue to pray godly prayers for Rebekah’s deliverance as Holy Spirit directs you. Do not pray your will, but pray God’s will according to Matthew 5:44 AMP which says, “But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” The love of God demands that we walk this way.
- Guard your heart. You are not obligated to sit in an environment that is harmful to you – no matter who it is. Set healthy boundaries! I tell you, I have become a master of this in my own life on so many levels. There was a time when I didn’t have boundaries for myself or anyone else! You are not obligated to be mistreated or put yourself in a position where you are tempted to mistreat others. The God we serve is one that preserves life, not ends it due to violence! There is a level of sensibility given to us by God himself in which we do not engage in unnecessary warfare. Sometimes the pursuit of peace can mean permanent separation or separation for a season. Proverbs 4:23 AMP says, “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”
- Protect yourself and protect your godly relationships – your natural as well as spiritual family. You are not obligated “to let the chips fall where they may.” We wage a godly warfare! I’ve seen great confusion in these areas. Proverbs 22:24 AMP says, “Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate…” The understanding of friendship in scripture is not “Facebook.” It denotes an intimate, family relationship – a yoking together like “God calling Abraham friend” or Christ referring to his disciples as “brother.”
The Lord is well able to guide us with WISDOM! We are not wired to love people “to death.” Christ already walked out that calling. You nor I have any “stripes” to bare and “atone” for anyone! Isaiah 53:5 AMP says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.”
Finally, take a look at the scripture that immediately follows Matthew 18:15-17. Listen to these scriptures that we quote all the time that follow this discourse on handling disputes. People of God, listen to this:
“Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven. Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.”
Do you see it? This binding and loosing scripture is about binding and loosing LOVE, FORGIVENESS AND PEACE between brethren. It is about establishing BOUNDARIES and the LOVE OF GOD in the earth in the midst of the people of God. It even follows through with the harmony beckoned in the power of agreement.
God is against anything that hinders HIS KIND OF LOVE. He will remove any and every obstacle from your life – if you desire it – that will block the flow of forgiveness and love as He ordained it.
Rebekah might not want to be delivered; but because of your efforts to reconcile – he will deliver YOU from her snare.
