Page 3 - March 2023 - Truth & Tidings

o, this article isn’t really about It is likely that Isaac’s praying occurred
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Hagar. But the next generation throughout those 20 years, not merely at
Nfaced a strikingly similar situa- the climax of them. His faith in the prom-
tion. Surely Isaac knew that the Lord had ises of God was steady and strong, and
said to his father Abraham, “Through Isaac he knew he had every right to pray for a
your descendants will be counted” (Gen child since it was in keeping with God’s
21:12). But Isaac was pushing 60 and still promises. There were likely days when he
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had no children. The promised seed didn’t and Rebekah were tempted to give up and
look too promising. The barrenness that take matters into their own hands as did the
had afflicted his mother Sarai (11:30) now previous generation, but they shunned the
clung to his wife Rebekah (25:21). And the Hagar approach, remaining remarkably
blessing of Rebekah’s family, “May you resolute in their faith.
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become the mother of thousands of ten The result was that “the LORD answered
thousands!” (24:60), was sounding more his [Isaac’s] prayer, and his wife Rebekah
and more like mere wishful thinking. became pregnant” (v21). And God’s answer
Nearly 20 years had passed since Isaac and came not with a son, but two.
Rebekah were married but there was still As believers now living in a different age,
no crib in their tent. Were they tempted to the same temptation to adopt the Hagar ap-
give the Hagar approach a try? proach is always just lingering around the
Interestingly, the verses preceding our corner. We don’t like waiting. And we tend
narrative indicate just how fruitful Hagar’s to view waiting as wasting time. The allur-
son Ishmael had become. The non-chosen ing call to move ahead of God tests every
line ended up having 12 princes (25:12-18). generation, but divine promises can only be
The chosen line of Isaac couldn’t even get fulfilled by the One who gives them. Wait-
a line started. ing on the Lord is no fruitless exercise but
If it looks like a replay of Genesis 16, it draws us closer to the One who brings His
is. The mention of Abraham throughout promises to pass in His time. Isaac and Re-
chapter 25 gets us thinking about God’s bekah may have already learned from his
promises to him and his seed. The refer- parents that running ahead of God won’t
ences to Hagar, Sarah and Ishmael (vv12- make Him run any faster, for they still
18) take us back to the faithless decision had to wait 14 more years after Ishmael’s
Abraham and Sarah made decades before. birth for the promised son’s arrival. No one
Isaac and Rebekah’s lengthy period of changes God’s schedule, including you. So
childlessness is also highlighted (vv20-21). pray, wait, and let God do His work in His
The resemblance to Genesis 16 is uncanny, time. He doesn’t want a helping hand, only
but with one admirable exception – Isaac’s a trusting heart.
response. He “prayed to the LORD on be- ² We should also note Rebekah’s commendable
half of his wife because she was childless” practice of bringing her need to the Lord (25:22-
(v21). Abraham didn’t pray; his son did. 23).
³ Isaac wins the honorable title of being the only
¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the NET. monogamous patriarch.

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