This post is Day 13 in a series of studies about “Separation”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Separation – Day 13

God had clearly told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. And here we find Rebekah, wife of Isaac, unable to get pregnant! Isaac prayed for his wife and the prayer was answered. But it was an uncomfortable pregnancy, so she turned to the Lord herself.

Genesis 25:23

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.”

The Thought

God had clearly told Rebekah’s father-in-law Abraham, that he would be the father of many nations. And here she was, wife of Isaac, unable to get pregnant (Genesis 25:21)! That must have been a serious concern. Isaac prayed for his wife and the prayer was answered. But it was an uncomfortable pregnancy, so she turned to the Lord herself.

Most of us today would pray. But we would also go to see a gynaecologist at a hospital and it’s difficult to imagine not having those places available.

Do you think Rebekah was happy with what the Lord said? What a task! But what a worry too, to know that these two children would not be the greatest of friends, that they would be “separated” from each other. We know from reading on in Genesis, that Esau and Jacob never did get on together well. They had different interests, and different abilities. It was God’s plan to use the younger son Jacob, (later renamed Israel) to father the twelve tribes of the Jewish nation.

As the boys grew and as Rebekah watched her children develop such different personalities, she must have reflected often about the Lord’s words to her. Like Mary, the mother of Jesus, she must have ‘pondered these things in her heart’ (Luke 2:19 & 51).

Action

Praise God for the plans He has for each individual child born on the earth.

Pray for any families you know where the children are very different and don’t get along well together. Pray that each child fulfills the Lord’s calling on their lives.

Also pray for each nation of the world to accept its God given identity and take its place in His plan.

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