Life Giving Prayer Life | Genesis 25

Church of The Word | Sunday Sermons

In Genesis chapter 25, we witness the continuation of God’s promises to Abraham through Isaac. Abraham has passed away, but his legacy of faith and the covenant promises of God endure. The theme of barrenness, however, persists—Sarah, Rebekah, and later Rachel and Leah all face this physical obstacle. This cycle of promises met with barrenness highlights a significant spiritual truth: God’s promises often come with apparent impossibilities, reminding us that the fulfillment of His will requires more than human effort. It requires faith, perseverance, and fervent prayer.

Faith in the Midst of Barrenness

The barrenness of the patriarchs' wives in Genesis serves as a poignant reminder that, despite God's clear promises, obstacles remain. In our passage, Isaac, like his father Abraham before him, finds himself with a barren wife. For 20 years, Rebekah remains childless, and it seems as though the promise of God—the promise to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars—might be thwarted. But Isaac does something significant: he prays.

Genesis 25:21 tells us, “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren.” And the next verse shows us God’s response: “The Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” God’s promises were sure, but the means through which they came to pass included the prayers of His servant. Isaac’s response was not passive resignation; he didn’t say, “Well, if God wills it, it will happen.” Instead, he actively sought the Lord’s intervention.

The Role of Prayer in God’s Sovereign Plan

It’s important to understand that while God ordains the ends, He also ordains the means. God promised that Abraham’s descendants would be a great nation, and that promise was passed on to Isaac. But Isaac still needed to pray for Rebekah’s womb to be opened. There is a lesson here for us: God has predestined His church to be fruitful, but we are not to sit back and wait for it to happen without engaging in the means He has provided.

We are called to be a praying people, to labor in prayer as we trust in God’s promises. The story of Isaac and Rebekah encourages us that, even when circumstances seem hopeless or when God’s promises appear delayed, the right response is not passivity or despair—it’s fervent, life-giving prayer.

The Paradox of Barrenness and Fruitfulness

Why does God so often allow barrenness in the lives of those to whom He has promised fruitfulness? Barrenness, whether physical, spiritual, or circumstantial, is a picture of human inability. It serves as a reminder that God’s promises are not achieved by human effort or strength, but by His power and grace alone. As with Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, the reality of barrenness forces God’s people to look to Him in dependence and faith.

For us, spiritual barrenness might look like ministry that seems fruitless, relationships that seem stagnant, or a community that feels hardened to the gospel. But in each of these situations, the call is the same: pray and believe that God is at work. Pray for the breakthrough. Pray for the impossible, because we serve the God who brings life out of barrenness.

Application: Praying for God’s Promises to Bear Fruit

As a church and as individual believers, we must be people of prayer who hold God to His promises. We have promises of revival, of a great multitude from every tribe, tongue, and nation who will call upon the name of the Lord. We have promises that the knowledge of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. But how do we respond to these promises? With passivity or with bold, persistent prayer?

The prayer of Isaac for Rebekah reminds us that while God’s promises are certain, He invites us to participate in their fulfillment through prayer. This means that we don’t just sit back and wait for God to work. We fall on our knees and cry out to Him to accomplish His purposes in and through us. We pray for revival in our communities, for the salvation of our loved ones, for the fruitfulness of our ministries, and for the spread of the gospel to the nations.

The Global Perspective: God’s Heart for All People

Today, we find ourselves in a unique position. People from every corner of the globe are coming to our cities and communities. While many may view this as a threat to our cultural identity, we must see it as a divine opportunity. God is bringing the nations to our doorstep. In a sense, the world is coming to us, and we have the privilege to share the hope of Christ with them. Like Isaac, we must pray fervently, trusting that God is working even when we don’t see immediate results.

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