Power of a Praying Husband

Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren;

and the Lord answered him

and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Genesis 25:21

Once again we see the power of prayer, this time through Isaac as he prayed on behalf of his wife. I believe Isaac was interceding on behalf of his wife and not asking on behalf of himself. Here we see how a godly man is to respond to the concerns of his wife.

I am sure Rebekah’s heart was aching over her inability to conceive. Isaac, especially at this point in history, could easily have chosen to put Rebekah away and choose another wife that would bear him a son, but Isaac loved Rebekah.

Isaac also knew the miracle of his own birth. He knew that the God of his father, Abraham, had the power to open and close the womb and the power to give man strength and the power to take it away. Isaac also knew that through him all the nations of the earth were to be blessed. He knew that his father’s descendants were to be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

In this knowledge and in this faith, Isaac sought the mercy of God upon his wife. God honored his prayer, and Rebekah did conceive.

As her belly grew, she felt a great struggle within her, and Rebekah went to inquire of the Lord. This is the first recording in Scripture of a woman seeking God in prayer.

God holds no partiality for male or female.

I believe God is the originator of women’s rights. He created male and female, both in His image. His ears are equally open to the prayers of men and women. He hears our prayers, and He always give answers to those who have truly sought his grace.

Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

God is available to all and will answer any who seek his face. God’s ear does not open or close according to our gender, race, or nationality. God’s ear opens and closes according to our hearts and according to our attitudes.

James writes that we do not have because we do not ask, and when we do ask it is with the wrong motives (James 4:2–3). Isaac would not complain about his wife being barren when he had not yet asked God for a child. Rebekah did not complain about the pain in her belly without first inquiring of God. God’s ear was open to them both. Our sin is the only thing that separates us from Him, male or female.

Oh Father,

Help me to keep my heart pure so that when I come before Your throne in prayer, I come with the right motives. When others’ concerns come before me, may I immediately come before You and lift them up to You in prayer. Oh Father, may I not be guilty of  complaining about not having when I have never even come before You and asked.

My Jesus, it is in Your name I pray,

Amen.