Deeper Roots – Genesis 25:21-26

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May 4, 2022

A humbled and open heart is fertile soil for God’s seeds of wisdom. Establishing deeper roots requires analyzing God’s word to discover truths, values, and lessons for application to our lives. Periodically, a scripture or passage calls for further exploration, like Genesis 25:21-26.

21 Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. 22 But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the Lord about it. “Why is this happening to me?” she asked.

23 And the Lord told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”

24 And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins! 25 The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau. 26 Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

Genesis 25:21-26 NLT

Our Deeper Roots passage in Genesis reminds us that God’s ways are not like ours. Our scripture selection begins with Isaac interceding for Rebekah’s womb to open. Isaac’s prayer was answered. Rebekah becomes pregnant, but she’s met with some challenges. Her pregnancy is not easy and she asks the Lord, “Why is this happening to me?” The Lord responds with an answer that her sons will be in competition with each other, but the youngest would come out on top. When the time of birth comes, Rebekah births twins, Esau and Jacob. Jacob comes out second grasping the heel of his older brother, Esau. A foreshadowing of things to come.

Isaac carries the promise that God gave his father Abraham. But it’s been 20 years that Isaac and Rebekah have been married and they haven’t had any children. So Isaac prays to God for his wife to have a child (this is a different approach from his parents, Sarah and Abraham). The Lord opens Rebekah’s womb and she conceives. Rebekah has a rough pregnancy. One translation says she asks God, “Why do I live?(ESV)” God responds to her with a small glimpse into His plan to make nations out of her sons. God also shares that the sons and their descendants will be at odds with each other, yet the younger son would prevail. At birth, there’s wordplay on the names Esau (hairy) and Jacob (heel). Names that will add significance to other events in the future.

God’s hand weaves this story together with such unpredictable grace. His ways are not our ways. Being blessed to conceive after waiting 20 years had to be a source of pure joy. Yet how quickly Rebekah’s joy disappeared when the babies struggled in her womb. It made her question her life. The encouraging piece is how she took it back to God and He answered. He’s always there for His children. God shares a small piece of His big plan of redemption and restoration. Just enough to keep Rebekah going and fulfill the promise.

God has given each of His children a promise. He will ensure that it comes to pass. The challenge – ‘Don’t cling tightly to your own thoughts on how and when it will happen. Trust God’s timing and methods.’

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