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July 25 Daily Devotional

Praying Isaac

Frans Bakker

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife. —Genesis 25:21

Bible Reading

Genesis 25:19–24

Devotional

We know Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the three patriarchs, well. Abraham is called the father of all believers because great acts of faith are recorded of him. And then we know Jacob, with his eventful life. Many of God’s people can recognize themselves in Jacob and the experiences through which he went. In between these two we have Isaac, quiet Isaac. We know much less of him than we do of his father Abraham and his son Jacob. Was Isaac not important? Was he less significant than his father and his son? We would almost say so when we look at the power present in Abraham’s life and when we observe the storms of Jacob’s life.

Let us, however, be very careful here. We are prone to compare one to another in spiritual matters. When we do this, we look at things which meet the eye, while in reality the matters we should consider often belong to the hidden life with God. Each patriarch had his own way. Isaac’s way was a quiet one. It was far less conspicuous and noticeable than the way of his father or that of his son. Isaac walked in the shadows. Yet Isaac walked in quietness with God, and in doing so, he was not less significant in the life of faith. Each patriarch had his own way. We all will have to walk on our own path, as long as we may meet God upon our way. Then it does not matter if other people consider our way to be in the shadows.

Scripture records that Isaac was found in prayer before the face of God, entreating the Lord for his wife. We can also translate these words to indicate that Isaac entreated the Lord in the presence of his wife. That entails that Isaac led Rebekah in prayer before God’s face. Together they called upon the name of the Lord.

Though we do not know much about Isaac and we do not know many details about what happened to him outside of his tent, we do know something very important that happened inside his tent. After all, the most important matters of the life of grace are found within the coverings of his tent. Ask Rebekah who Isaac is, and she will be sure to tell you that Isaac knows of a way that leads upward to God. Our best witnesses on earth live in our own home. What would those who live with you say about you?

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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