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DEVOTION

GENESIS

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Gen 25:19-28

Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her,

"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.   26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

NIV

We begin this complete and complex narrative regarding the relationship between two brothers, with their conception, their time in the womb, their birth which leads to their adult attributes. But we have some truths as well. First we see that Rebekah was barren. She was not conceiving any children, which in those days were one of the main reasons for a man to marry, so he could have sons, heirs to carry on the family. This still seems to be important to many men today so their family name will continue. But Rebekah was not giving Isaac any sons, or daughters for that matter. So Isaac prayed on behalf of his wife. Now was he praying so he would have a son? It would seem if that were the case, we would have been told. But he was praying on her behalf. He knew the importance she placed on providing sons for her husband. Although we are not told of her emotional or mental state, we could imagine she felt a bit worthless as a woman not able to provide her husband with a son. This does not imply they did not love each other greatly, for we were told Isaac loved her and we would also have to conclude Rebekah loved Isaac. Yet no children, barren was her state and this had to bear upon her heavily. So Isaac, loving his wife, prayed on her behalf. So often we go to the Lord for our own needs, and there are many times when we lift others up before the lord, in intercession, or intercessory prayer. It is a truth that we should pray for our own needs, but it is also a truth we need to pray for the needs of others, especially our spouse. This kind of prayer could contain some self-concerns which then mingles the lines between prayer for self and intercessory prayer. We are not told Isaac had concerns about having sons, but we are told he interceded before God for his wife, for her needs, her emotional, mental state, about feeling good about herself being able to bear children for her beloved Isaac. We see, as always, God answers prayer. Rebekah becomes pregnant. God never leaves a prayer unanswered. There has been sermons preached about what kind of answer God gives. Some preachers have said he might say, yes, or no, or wait awhile. But we cannot find enough scriptural evidence to support that type of teaching. True we have not because we ask not, or because we ask with wrong motives. But that is not God saying no. It is us not praying correctly. When we pray in accordance with the will of God, believing that which we ask for, we will receive, he freely gives. He always answers yes. He answered the prayer of Isaac on behalf of his wife and she was no longer barren. Plus, God gives abundantly as not just one son, but with two. This seems to be the first and maybe the only account in scripture of twins. Women carried babies within since the beginning of man’s time on earth, with Adam and Eve. But we have never been told about a woman bearing twins and how the two babies within struggled for space. It would seem, Rebekah knew Isaac had prayed on her behalf and that God had answered his prayer as she was with child, while actually with children. This must have been a blessing for her, yet she also must have felt very uncomfortable with the twins jostling within her. So she goes to God, and asks, why did you do this to me? Couldn’t you just answer normally, why did you have to make this happen to me? God does not answer with condemnation for her asking why. It is alright to question his ways, not in the sense of being above him, with the right to judge his answer. But to ask for clarification that this is the way he intends to work in our lives. We really are not told her motives for asking why. But she did inquire of God, why is this happening. Again, God does not answer with yes, no or wait, but he answers with clarification, with perfect truth, with exact information regarding the two sons within her womb. It would appear she did not know of twins, as we have concluded, twins were never before born. So God reveals to her the reason she feels so much turmoil within is because she carries two sons. He also reveals a truth about these two.  Was this truth he revealed to Rebekah predetermined by him, or had he foresaw it? This could be a rather lengthy discussion. But the point is God not only answered her inquiry, he gave her specific information. We need not have to guess what God says. This reasoning of his answer might being, yes, no or wait could be nothing more than a copout for disbelief. All the evidence we encounter within the scripture of individuals praying, inquiring, seeking God, we find him answering as asked, plus more. This does not preclude his will, as we also have enough evidence to know that when we ask, it is also appropriate to include, nevertheless your will be done. We should always want his will to be done in our lives, but we also have these truths that show us we can pray, even if we do know or want his will, but pray for our needs as well as for the needs of others, or on their behalf. Isaac did not include in his prayer, nevertheless your will be done. There is so much we could say about prayer, it would take a book rather than a devotion. But the point is, God does answer. We have not thought anything about the twins as adults and the type of men they became and the somewhat undivided love of the parents. Perhaps we should leave that for later. Let us simply remember it is good to ask God, and it is appropriate to expect a response.