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Genesis 25:19-26 – Praying through the Bible #14 – A Prayer of Pain
Prayers bring answers. Answers bring solutions. Solutions bring pain. Not always, but more than what makes us emotionally, intellectually or spiritually comfortable. Understandably, we want solutions that solve everything, but solutions to one problem very often breed problems unwanted and unconsidered. And these bring more prayers.
Isaac is respectfully unique among the fathers of the Jewish nation: he is properly monogamous with Rebekah, no multiple wives, no concubines. Yet living in this originally blessed and divinely arranged companionship did not keep at bay everyday problems. Like most couples, Isaac and Rebekah want children but cannot for 20 years (Gn 25.20,26). Very properly, Isaac prays (25.21), turning only to God for a solution, unlike his parents.
Why his God-given wife is barren is unstated (25.21), but knowing God’s big story we are not surprised. Abraham’s Sarah is barren. Isaac’s Rebekah is barren. Jacob’s Rachel is barren. The Three Patriarchs are all the same, I believe purposely designed by God, so Israel can be said to exist only by the grace of God. Our pains can be God’s plans. Our pains encourage us to look outside of us for answers. Every once in a while, and not too often, we are reminded how little power we really have, and how great a power is prayer.
God hears the pained prayer and Rebekah conceives. Prayers bring answers. Answers bring solutions. Solutions bring pain. Her unborn children struggle (25.22). They are crushing and breaking one another, the Hebrew meaning of struggling. So much so she inquires of God, asking that universal question every living believer has asked, “Why?” She has twins, but more than twins. She has two different nations that will be as antagonistic to one another as the brothers will be to each another. These sons will even bring emotional separation between the one flesh couple of Isaac and Rebekah. Prayers bring answers. Answers bring solutions. Solutions bring pain.
Prayer Challenge: Look back in our life to situations we never would have chosen and then look to today. Can we see how God used our little situations for big purposes? If not, keep looking and praying for providential vision. Thank God for past pain and present grace. Pray for God’s answers for today’s problems, being willing to accept pain that comes from God’s solutions. Prayers bring answers. Answers bring solutions. Solutions bring pain. Pain brings prayers.
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