November 4, 2026
GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:
“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.” (Genesis 25.21)
REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:
Like father, like son, but different. We might be enticed to create a T-chart to compare and contrast Abraham and Isaac after hearing their story in relationship to their marital experiences. Let’s not. Instead, let’s focus on one point of reflection which is that both their wives, Sarah and Rebekah, were not able to conceive a child until there was a divine, spiritual intervention. We do not hear of Sarah’s infertility until God declares to Abraham the line of descendancy when he is 80 years old. Isaac discovers this at the age of forty. For all that Isaac went through in his forty years, you would imagine that discovering Rebekah’s inability to have a child would be of great concern. Not only would Isaac want a child who would carry on his name, and that in particular with a son, but to fulfill the prophecy and blessing which was proclaimed over Abraham. Hard to have descendants as numerous of the stars in the sky and the grains of sand by the sea if your wife cannot have children. Of course, we are dealing with the assumption that the problem is only with Rebekah. That question was answered for Abraham through Hagar who got pregnant and bore Abraham a son, Ishmael. Apparently, the question of child-ability fell on Sarah. In this case between Isaac and Rebekah, how do we know she could not have a child? What a terrible assumption it is to think all men are fertile! Such assumptions bring about that “male dominant” mindset which can be so paralyzing to many women and falsely empowering to men with an ego issue. Just because Isaac prayed and Rebekah became pregnant still does not resolve the question. What it does say to us is “with God all things are possible…,” at least those things which are ordained to serve the greater good and will of God for His people. Whether it was an Isaac or Rebekah problem, it was solved by prayer.
This is a lesson for us all to heed; and not just about fertility issues. I suppose we good make a literary connection using the concept of fertility and prayer. How many of us turn to God in prayer because of a lack of production, prosperity and quality of life? Prayer helps to cultivate the heart and mind so that the Spirit of God can minister to us and through us. If we are influenced and in tune with the word of God, then the seed of the Spirit’s wisdom and power will most certainly produce in us the ability to accomplish God’s good as it was designed for us to do and as we are equally designed to do the good of God which He intends. If we want to keep our heart, mind, body and soul prepared for the influence of God, then spending time in prayer and putting our faith into prayer will certainly do that. This we know was true for Isaac. I am sure his silence on the altar under the knife of sacrifice was filled with prayer even though we do not hear it. In the situation with Rebekah, we hear “Isaac prayed for her.” He certainly believed and trusted in prayer. This is not what we hear from Abraham. That does not mean he didn’t pray. It does cause us to consider what it was that Abraham prayed to problem-solve. There are times, such as when he “bartered his wife” under another identity, that I had to think to myself “Did you ask God about this?” I wonder. Mighty ones of God do not let it be said of us “Did you ask God if that is what you should be doing?” Prayer works. Believe it. Receive it. Put it into practice often. We can never pray enough.
TODAYS’ PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:
Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
