Isaac & Rebekah

I’m reading through the Old Testament right now and recently finished Genesis. I am excited to share the journey Isaac and Rebekah took to become parents from Genesis 25:21-24. There is so much content in just these 3 verses. It truly amazes me!

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. Isaac prayed for Rebekah because she was barren. She later became pregnant with twins, Jacob and Esau. Previously, God promised Abraham He would be the father of a great nation and the only way to pass this down was through Abraham’s son, Isaac

• The Wait – We know Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, but how old was he when Jacob and Esau were born? Verse 26 tells us that he was 60. So 20 years elapsed from when they married to when they first become parents. Even children of promise didn’t enter this world right away. It took a lot of waiting and a lot of prayer. Isaac asked God and God answered, the same way He will for us. God wants us to ask Him and He wants to answer us. So why was the wait 20 years? It could have been to appreciate the children more for when they were born. It could have been because Isaac and Rebekah weren’t ready yet and maybe they needed to mature and grow some more. It could have been that although it was their desire, it wasn’t the perfect timing for it. I don’t know exactly, but I do know that God never delays!

• Twins – I love how Rebekah didn’t just get pregnant with one baby, but after being barren for 20 years, she got pregnant with two. Genesis 25:24 says “When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.” so I’m making the assumption they didn’t even know until the day of birth (which makes sense considering the time period). Wow, what a surprise! This just blows me away. The Lord did immeasurably more than they could have asked or imagine. Ephesians 3:20

• Isaacs prayer – Genesis 25:21 says that Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. What a beautiful example He sets for any couple going through infertility. If your husband isn’t praying for you and over you, I encourage him to follow Isaac’s example. If Isaac prayed over her womb, I believe all the men today should be doing the same.

• Life after babies – Having babies does not solve any problems. If you continue to read in Genesis there was a ton of drama between all four family members. Lots of deceit, mis-communication, jealousy, etc. It’s evident that when we stray from Him our life gets chaotic, just as it was for this family. If you are wanting to start a family, and are struggling to do so, I hope this encourages you that even when we receive the answer to our prayer, if we become selfish, life can be much harder than it is now while we are waiting, especially when you aren’t pursuing the Lord. Pursue the Lord and let Him mold you and prep you for the parents, or the wife, or the co-worker you are waiting to become.