Genesis
25:21-26, “And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren.
And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. (22)
The children struggled together within her, and she said, "If it is thus,
why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. (23)
And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples
from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the
older shall serve the younger."
(24) When her days to give birth
were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. (25)
The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called
his name Esau. (26) Afterward his brother came out with his hand
holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old
when she bore them.”
Isaac
and Rebekah faced a similar trial to that of his parents. Rebekah, like Sarah,
was barren. We are simply told that Isaac’s response was that of prayer. Isaac
knew better than most that God was able to answer his prayer and perform the
seemingly impossible. However, this prayer was not immediately granted. Isaac
and Rebekah had to wait some 20 years before God undertook and provided them
with children.
Once
more we witness the sovereign plan and purposes of God; God works in His power
to cause Rebekah to conceive. But her pregnancy is far from normal as she can
feel her unborn children already striving within her. Such an occurrence would
cause any pregnant mother great concern for the welfare of her children. How
does Rebekah respond? She follows the example of her husband Isaac and she seeks
the Lord in prayer. Rebekah had come to learn the value not just of prayer but
of faith in God. She came from an idol worshipping family, but then married into
a family that no longer bowed down to idols but worshipped God in faith. Her
trust, faith and prayerfulness is rewarded as God answers her prayer quickly,
revealing to her His sovereign will and purpose for the two children within
her.
We
see in these verses two people facing two trials, their response to these trials
is to approach God in prayer and faith, trusting God to answer and to work. In
the one instance the answer comes after 20 years, in the other instance the
answer comes almost immediately. God shows Himself once more to be the faithful,
prayer answering God and the God that rewards those who diligently seek after
Him. This encourages us to approach God all the more in prayer and to grow in
our faith and trust. It also reminds us that God’s purposes are God’s purposes,
they will come pass in accordance to God’s will and timing. Sometimes those
purposes remain hidden for years and in other times God reveals His purpose to
us. We are simply called to diligently seek after Him in prayer and to live in
faith and trust, knowing that God’s purposes are at work and those purposes are
good. Lastly, this passage encourages us to be quick to go to God in prayer and
to persevere in prayer. When we face trials, the moment the trial presents
itself we have an immediate choice to make, who or what will we turn to first
for help. Let us learn from Isaac and Rebekah’s example and turn to God
first.
Faithful
Father, we thank You that You are a prayer answering God, that we can seek You
in times of trials and know that You hear our prayer and answer at the time of
Your choosing. Father, help us to trust in Your timing and in Your purposes,
instead of being impatient or questioning Your wisdom. You are the all-wise,
all-powerful, good God, help us to constantly remember that and keep that before
our minds in the times when Your purposes seem hidden to us. Help us to make You
the first one to whom we turn to when we face trials and difficulties, trusting
in You to help and guide us through them all. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment