Genesis 25: 22-23: Take it the Lord in prayer, part 2.

“22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to enquire of the Lord. 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 elder will serve the younger.’” NIV UK

Matthew Henry makes the point that not having children was Rebekah’s problem before; now having children was her problem. She had a difficult pregnancy. Perhaps she felt so disturbed by the inner tumult that she thought it might be the death of her. She must have felt uncomfortable at very least. I understand the Hebrew language used indicates that the foetal movements were abnormal. Whatever, Henry is surely right to say: ‘(1.) The comforts we are most desirous of are sometimes found to bring along with them more occasion of trouble and uneasiness that we thought of, vanity being written upon all things under the sun. God thus teaches us to read it. (2.) We are too apt to be discontented with our comforts, because of the uneasiness that attends them. We know not when we are pleased; we know neither how to want nor how to abound.’

In her perplexity, Rebekah sought understanding. She took it to the Lord in prayer. Prayer is not just about asking for things (i.e. making requests), as in yesterday’s reading (21). It can also entail asking about things (seeking wisdom). It is a good thing to ‘’enquire of the LORD’’, as Rebekah did (22,23). I have often referred to the wonderful promise in James 1:5-7, and I feel the need to do so again. God is not obliged to answer any of our questions, but He often chooses to do so, as here. It is so good to enter ‘’the sanctuary of God’’ (Ps.73:17)