DEJA VU

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 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. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. 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." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 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." Genesis 25:18-26

In the beginning of Genesis, chapter 25, we read where Abraham has passed away but not before he found his son Isaac a wife in Rebekah. As we begin to read about Isaac and Rebekah’s life after Abraham, we see a very ironic similarity to the marriage of Abraham and Sarah. You’ll remember that Sarah was barren and yet God promised both her and Abraham that they would bear a son together…a son who would assume the birthrights of Abraham…his full inheritance after death. Now, we read that Isaac and Rebekah face the same problem…for she is barren. What would they do? How would they produce a son to carry on the lineage of Abraham…a lineage that God promised would continue?

Well, in Isaac, we immediately see evidence of what we already knew for the most part: Isaac is a devout man of God who places his trust in God’s ability to do anything, including allow for Rebekah to become pregnant with a son to carry on the family name. We know this about Isaac because our scripture says, "Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren."

Well, just as we saw in Abraham and Sarah where God blessed them with bearing a son Isaac, now Isaac and Rebekah find themselves ready to have children themselves…the Lord having removed Rebekah’s barrenness. What distinguishes the two birth stories however is that Isaac and Rebekah are getting two children. Scripture says, "The babies jostled each other within her"…so much so that Rebekah had to ask, "Why is this happening to me?" She knew who held the answer. She needed to approach the Lord.

And so she did ("she went to inquire of the Lord."). In return, 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." Immediately, the Lord lets Rebekah know that these two boys would be distinguished from one another (two nations, two peoples that will be separated). There was going to be more discord than unity.

So the time came for Rebekah to give birth to her twins and we’re told "the first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob." Even at birth, we see there will be competition between these two sons and God’s prophecy will come to fruition.

Question: Are you facing something that seems impossible? Do you remember God’s words to Sarah as she laughed at Him? He said, "Is anything too hard for God?" The answer to that question is a resounding NO. He blessed a barren Sarah with Isaac. He blessed a barren Rebekah with Esau and Jacob. What part of your life is barren and lacking? Trust that the Lord will provide for you as you fully place your faith in the One who is always willing to bless you in accordance with His will.

Question: If you are a husband or wife, do you pray over your spouse? We read that Isaac did because of her barrenness. And in response, the Lord blessed Isaac and Rebekah, just as He is willing to bless you and I if we faithfully bring our needs before Him. What is your spouse in need of from the Lord? Pray for that need and pray with thanksgiving that you have been blessed with a wonderful spouse to share life with. For marriage is ordained by the Lord…a privilege and blessing we should rejoice in.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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