#34: Answered Prayers

Genesis 25:19-23

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 childless. 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.”

Comments

Isaac was Abraham’s beloved son of God’s promise and Rebekah was God’s answer to the prayer of Abraham’s servant who had been sent to find a wife for Isaac. The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah may thus have been “made in heaven,” but it wasn’t without its problems. After twenty years, they still had no son by whom God’s promise to Abraham could be fulfilled.

Isaac prayed for his wife to conceive and another prayer was answered, but again it wasn’t without its problems. Rebekah asked God to help her understand why her pregnancy should be so difficult.

God spoke to Rebekah to explain what was happening, but this answered prayer wasn’t without its problems either. She would have twin sons from whom nations would emerge in ways that would defy all tradition. 

God hears Rebekah’s prayer and explains what is happening to her, but says nothing about why it should be necessary for two nations to struggle within her or why the older should serve the younger. God shows us what we need to know even though much of what we would like to know remains a mystery.

Reflections

The answered prayers in this story don’t eliminate hardship and suffering. Do you assume God’s answer to your prayers will make things easier for you? Are you prepared for the challenges that answered prayers might bring?

Prayer

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who may not make our lives easy, but who gives them meaning and purpose.