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Sermons from the Book of Genesis |
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The annual number of births in the world is roughly estimated at 95 million or 3 babies every second. Three-fifths of births are in Asia, one-fifth in Europe, and one-tenth in Africa and the Americas. The average weight at birth for boys is 7-4/5 lbs. and for girls 7-2/5 lbs. The average length at birth is 20 1/2 inches for boys and 20 inches for girls.1
The heaviest newborn child in modern times was a boy born in Turkey in 1961 that weighed 24 lbs. and 4 oz. The lowest-weight surviving newborn child was a baby born in England in 1938. It was a little girl that weighed 10 oz and was 12 inches long.2
Some has given this definition of a baby: “A baby is a small member of the home that makes love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, the bank account smaller, clothes shabbier, the home happier and the future worth living for."3
Someone has said that there are 6 great days in the life of an individual that lives a normal life span:
In our scripture text we see that Isaac and Rebekah had experienced the first three great days of their life, but they were having difficulties experiencing the fourth great day and that being the birth of a child. Isaac wanted a baby. Rebekah wanted a baby. They were crying out to the Lord to give them a baby.
From this story consider with me the following thoughts. First, we see:
1. A BARREN MOTHER
We read in Genesis 25:21, "And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren." As you look in the Scripture we meet several barren women: Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Manoah’s wife, and Elizabeth. In our text we see that we can add Rebekah’s name to the list.
Think with me about:
A. The Problem Of Physical Barrenness
The word “barren” means “sterile.” For some physical reason Rebekah was unable to conceive. We read in verse 20 that Isaac was 40 when they were married so it is probable that Rebekah was in her late twenties or early thirties. Like every wife she wanted to have a baby and give her husband a child. But she was barren. There was the problem of physical barrenness. My heart has always gone out to mothers who wanted children but were unable to do so. It is a natural thing for a woman to want to have a child. It is sad when because of some physical reason they are unable to do so.
Think with me also of:
B. The Picture Of Spiritual Barrenness
Often the physical barrenness we find in the Bible is a picture of spiritual barrenness. As the bride of Christ we are to be a faithful bride and also a fruitful bride. Our marriage to the Lord Jesus ought to be a relationship that is fruitful. Everyone of us that are saved ought to be having spiritual children.
We read in Romans 7:4, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." Paul uses the analogy of marriage to describe our relationship to Christ. He also speaks of that relationship as one that should bring forth fruit unto God. Do you have any spiritual children? Or is your life spiritually unfruitful and unproductive?
In 1877 Evangelist A.G. Upham was leading a series of meetings in a Church in New England. One night in his sermon he told the true story of a young man who, a month after being saved, was seriously injured in an accident. As the seriousness of his condition became evident, one of his Christian friends who was at his bedside, asked him if he was afraid to die. He replied, “Friend, no I am not afraid to die for Jesus has saved me. But, I have not been able to lead even one such as I was, to Christ in the time I have known Him. No, I am not afraid to die; but oh! If I go, must I go and empty handed?” The pastor of the Church was C.C. Luther. When Upham told that story the heart of Luther was gripped. Right in the services he took a piece of paper and jotted down the lines of a hymn we have become familiar with:
Must I go, and empty handed, Thus my dear Redeemer meet? Not one day of service give Him, Lay no trophy at His feet?
Must I go and empty handed? Must I meet my Saviour so? Not one soul with which to greet Him: Must I empty handed go?5
There is the problem of spiritual barrenness. There are Christians that are barren. There are Churches that are barren. If you can imagine how Rebekah as a barren mother must have felt, think of how God must feel when His children are barren. We are found to find others. We are told to tell others. We are won to win others. We are saved to save others. We are to be fruitful.
Secondly, notice with me:
2. A BURDENED MOTHER
Again notice Genesis 25:21, "And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren." It is obvious that Isaac does not want to be fatherless and Rebekah does not want to be motherless. Without specifically stating so, it is clear that before us is a burdened mother. If we are spiritually barren what should we do?
First, we must be:
A. Aspiring For A Child
Again it is obvious and evident that there is a deep longing in the heart of Rebekah for a child. The great question before us is, “Do you want spiritual children? Do you want to bear fruit in your life?”
George Barna found that only one-quarter (27%) of adults say that are always mindful of being Christ’s representatives; one-sixth (17%) say they are often aware of that mantel; and one-fourth are sometimes conscious of that privilege. The remaining 30% claim they rarely or never think of themselves in this light.6
USA Today, September 19, 1997, gave these statistics on how people use free time. They said that adults average 39.4 hours free time per week, up from 34.8 in 1965. How they use that time:
Now you think about these facts for a minute. 30% of those in this country that profess to be saved rarely or never think about being Christ’s witness and representative on this earth. When it comes to our free time only .9% of that time is given to religion. You can interpret that anyway you want to, but to me it tells me that many Christians don’t care about and have no interest in bearing spiritual fruit.
Billy Sunday told the story about walking down the street with a man and asked him, “Are you a Christian?” He said, “No sir, I am not.” Sunday said that he talked to him about being saved and tried to get him to give his heart to Christ but the man would not. Sunday asked him, “Are your father and mother alive?” He said that they were both alive. Sunday asked, “Is your father a Christian?” The man answered, “I don't know. He has been a steward in a Church for several years.” .. “Is your mother a Christian?” .. “I don’t know. She has been superintendent of the Sunday School of the same Church for some time.” .. “Have you a sister?” .. “Yes sir.” .. “Is she a Christian?” .. I don’t know. She has the primary department in the Sunday School.” .. “Did your father, mother, or sister ever ask you to be a Christian?” .. “Mr. Sunday, as long as I can remember, my father or mother or sister never said a word to me about my soul. Do you believe they think I am lost.” Sunday said he could not answer him.
There are many who are Christians that have never ever spoke to another about being saved. In some cases, I think it is a case of just not caring. They lack a desire to have spiritual children. Furthermore, we must be:
B. Agonizing For A Child
It is obvious that Isaac and Rebekah wanted a child, and without it being said, there was great distress and agony on their part that she was barren. Most of the time when you read about barren women in the Bible they are agonizing for a child. Notice Genesis 30:1, "And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die."
I think of Hannah. Year after year she went up to the Temple and poured her heart out to God for a child. We read in 1 Samuel 1:10, "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore."
Someone has written:
Oh, for a passion for souls, Oh, for a pity that yearns; Oh, for a love that is stronger than death; Oh, for a fire that burns.
The wife of John Knox awoke one night to find that her husband was not in bed. She found him in another room on the floor weeping his heart out before God. She asked him to come back to bed and he replied, “How can I sleep when the souls of Scotland know not God.”
I read about a young father-to-be that was pacing back and forth, wringing his hands in the hospital corridor while his wife was in labor. He was tied up in knots of fear and anxiety, and beads of perspiration dropping from his brow revealed the agony of his suffering. Finally, at 4 a.m. a nurse popped out of a door and said, "Well, sir, you have a little girl." He dropped his hands, became limp, and said, "Oh, how I thank God it's a girl. She'll never have to go through the awful agony I've had tonight."
There will be some agonizing if there is going to be children. Amen! Thirdly, let me say that we must be:
C. Asking For A Child
Verse 21 tells us that “Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife.” The word simply means to pray or intercede. He prayed that God would touch her womb. He asked God to let her have children. We need to pray for children. We need to ask God to heal our barrenness. We need to ask God to make us fruitful.
Again I think of Hannah. Eli found her on her face, saw her lips moving, but heard no voice and thought she was drunk. Hannah said to him in 1 Samuel 1:15, "And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunken neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord." She was asking for a child. She was intreating the Lord for a child. She was praying for a child. We should and must pray for God to heal our barrenness and give us children.
A London newspaper carried an ad that read, “Father of three sons desires a daughter. Can anyone send suggestions?” There were more than a thousand replies, including one from an American whose advice was, “keep trying."7
Last of all, think with me of:
3. A BLESSED MOTHER
When people get down to business with God things always happen. Notice the rest of the story. First, we see that:
A. God Heard Their Prayers
Verse 21 tells that not only did Isaac intreat the Lord, but that “the LORD was intreated of him.” It is the same word but used in reciprocation. Simply said, the Lord heard him. When we aspire for spiritual fruit, and agonize for spiritual fruit, and ask for spiritual fruit God will hear.
James Alexander Stewart in his book, “Invasion Of Wales By The Spirit” wrote: “Deep spiritual awakenings, whether in local Churches or in whole countries, begin with desperate people like Hannah. God only answers prayers of desperate Christians...”
Also, notice that:
B. God Healed Her Problem
Notice the last statement in verse 21, “and Rebekah his wife conceived.” I can imagine she came running out of the tent one day hollering, “Isaac, Isaac. It’s blue! It’s blue!” Isaac asked, “What’s blue?” “My home pregnancy test. It’s blue” As a Christian would you not like to have the blessing of having a baby? As a Church, would you not like the blessing of a spiritual baby being born? If God’s people will aspire for a child, agonize for a child, and ask for a child, you might as well go ahead and have a shower for the baby is on the way. 1. Paul Lee Tan, “Encyclopedia Of 7700 Illustrations 2. "Ibid." 3. "Ibid." 4. From a sermon by James Merritt, “Haste Makes Waste.” 5. As told by Alfred B. Smith, “Al Smith’s Treasury Of Hymn Histories.” 6. George Barna, “The Index Of Leading Spiritual Indicators” 7. Encyclopedia Of 7700 Illustrations |