Day 1 of Week 5

October 3, 2008
Day One of Week Five
 
The Babies Jostled
Today's Treasure: Genesis 25: 22
"The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, 'Why is this happening to me?' So she went to inquire of the LORD."
 
Please read Genesis 25: 19 – 26
What disappointment did Rebekah obviously have in common with Sarah?
Both were barren
 
What question prompted Rebekah to inquire of the LORD in verse 22?
Why is this happening to me?
 
When did you last wonder something similar?
It is pretty obvious with me. I wonder on a regular basis how this cancer came upon me. I ask myself all the questions…what did I do wrong? I ate right, didn't smoke or drink, I didn't exercise like I do now…but I did exercise, I am young!!! I just can't figure it out!!!
I have to trust that there is a much bigger purpose in play as Beth suggests as the reason for Rebekah and Sarah both being barren.  
God is carrying me on a journe y, just as he carried Abraham's family many, many years ago. Wow! The same God that loved them enough to carry their family in the palm of his hand, love me that much! Beth teaches that when God sends you on a journey, it usually goes something like this:
We have to depart the place we received the promise
We have to travel through the land where the fulfillment of the promise is divinely tested and either humanly or demonically threatened
We have to tenaciously press through the obstacles to the place of fulfillment.
 
Draw your rendition of this "map" to provide a visual for yourself. Chart how a person typically gets from the place of receiving a divine promise to the place of its fulfillment. Use the "I am here" markers to show your journey for God's divine promise in your life. This is your faith walk.
=0 A 
 
How did God apparently encourage Isaac's spiritual participation toward the fulfillment of the promise of heirs in 25: 21?
Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife…the LORD answered him and she became pregnant
This makes me think of all the times Brian has knelt by my side and prayed this cancer out of me. He is so committed to leading our family through this obstacle. He sees it as a journey we must go through, but he is convinced that the two of us will grow old together. You have no idea how many times he has brought me out of sadness with his prayers. He has sought the face of God through all of this, and I can't help but believe that God will honor his submission and faith. I know you guys probably get tired of hearing my family stories, but I have to share this with all of you because it touched me in such a mighty way! If you think your children are not watching everything you say /do…listen to this. Last Saturday night I came home from shopping with my parents. My parents were kind enough to take my boys out to buy some of their winter clothes and such. When we got home, I was tired and a little discouraged because I hadn't felt great all weekend. I thought the boys were upstairs playing. So Brian and I went into the living room to talk. I began to cry. Apparently, Ridge heard me crying and decided to come downstairs to be by my side. I reassured him that I was okay…I was just tired from all the medicines I have had to take. He replied, with big tears in his eyes, "Mommy, I know you are okay. We are going to fight this breast cancer and fight and fight until all the breast cancer cells in your body are dead. You are not going to die from this, mommy." Then, my six year old son asked me if he could pray over me. He knelt down on the floor by my side and put his hands on me (just as he has watched his daddy do).&nbs p; He said the sweetest most sincere prayer over me that any mother could ever ask for. He prayed with the passion of an adult, and his words were so clear and amazing! That moment will live with me until I draw my last breath on this earth. If that child's prayers have anything to do with it, that breath will not take place for a very long time.  
 
Use your imagination and write a couple of sentences that you can almost "hear" coming from Isaac's mouth as he prayed on "behalf of his wife".
Father, I see the despair on the face of my wife as we both long to have a child to raise and love in your spirit. Please erase this despair and fill her face with the joy of a child.
 
What has God given you in a way that you have no doubt who was the Giver?
The peace I feel from day to day with this cancer could come from no other but God. God has also given me a godly husband and two amazing little boys!! Plus the love and support that I have found in my family and friends.
 
We have to realize that just because a prayer is answered; it doesn't necessarily bring an easy journey. Rebekah did conceive; however, her pregnancy was a difficult one.
We might personalize the essence of her confusion as, "If the end result of this is supposed to be ________________________, why am I _____________________?
Go ahead and fill in the blanks
You may have prayed for things in your life. When God answered the prayer maybe the journey you asked for wasn't an easy one. God will not exempt his children from the difficulties of life. If he did, how could nonbelievers receive examples of how to respond when things don't go the way we want them to. Can you imagine how we speak to nonbelievers when we respond to things in a godly way and put all of our trust in Him?
 
What explanation did God give for Rebekah's difficult pregnancy?
She was carrying twins that would create two nations. The older will serve the younger and one will be stronger.
 
Beth wants us to remember that David was not the one we would have chosen by appearance to be king. It is much the same in this situation with Rebekah. God seems to have an attraction to weakness, and it is probably because He wants situations to give glory to His kingdom. Beth points out that maybe we shouldn't take the trials we face so personally. The challenge does have something to do with us or God would have chosen someone else. Yet, you have to consider that the challenge may work through you to fulfill a purpose in the lives of your family as a whole, neighbors, your workplace, etc.
 
Let's conclude our lesson with the birth of Scripture's first recorded set of twins. What were they named? Why were they given those names?
Esau – he was read and hairy
Jacob – his hand was grasping Esau's heel
 
Think of a pair of siblings you've known since they were infants. Name the older one by his or her appearance and the younger by his/her early actions.
Older: Landon – beautiful and plump
Younger: Ridge E2 Amazing and needed to be held (All the time)!!!
 
I hope you all have a great day!!! Thanks for spending a little of it with me!!!
Love you
Tiffany