When A Husband Prays for His Wife

Scripture: Genesis 25:21

Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Isaac dearly loved his wife. She had come to him in time of his bereavement, when his mother had just passed. He was praying in a field one evening, when the Lord brought his wife right to him from another land. She was not a canaanite woman, but a woman from a place where his father respected. She was a beautiful woman that captured his attention; at a time in which his heart was open to her. Isaac was a praying man, and his prayers were answered.

Commentary
Even though Isaac loved Rebekah deeply, she could not conceive children. She was barren. But how could this be? How could a wife that God had brought to him be barren? Instead of him questioning God about the state of his wife's womb. He prayed to God. He asked God to open up her womb so that she would be able to conceive a child. He did not accuse God of sending him a woman that could not give him a child. He did not blame God, or his wife. He prayed for his wife because he loved her, and wanted her to experience having a child of her own, as he also wanted.

Isaac had learned a lesson from his father, Abraham, and his mother Sarah. They previously stepped outside of the will of God, because Sarah herself was barren; and could not have children. They decided to take matters into their own hands, and try and step into the shoes of God; by instituting a plan on their own. Regardless of their plan, God's plan prevailed. The child of the promise "Isaac," was born, as spoken by God. Isaac had learned a thing, or two by the time that he was married. He learned that earnest prayer changes things. He prayed that the hand of God would bless his wife. He spoke words of faith over her womb, and she conceived.

Reflection:
When a husband prays for his wife in faith, he unleashes hidden potential, destinies, and purposes locked within her womb; that could no otherwise be released. Things that were once barren come alive at the sound of his voice. The baby within her spirit leaps at the tone, and command of his voice. It is not a natural occurence, it is a supernatural occurence, orchestrated by the divine hand of God to be so. Never underestimate the prayers of a husband for his wife; for it is the design of God to shift the atmosphere of dominion back into the original hands of husband and wife.

Strong's Concordance Definitions:

Isaac: 3227
Isaac = "he laughs"

1) son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau

prayed: 6279
1) to pray, entreat, supplicate
a) (Qal) to pray, entreat
b) (Niphal) to be supplicated, be entreated
c) (Hiphil) to make supplication, plead

to the LORD: 3068
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136

on behalf: 5227
1) be in front of
adv
2) in front of, opposite to, in the sight of, before, to the front, right on
prep
3) towards the front of, in front of, on behalf of, as far as in front of

of his wife: 802
1) woman, wife, female

a) woman (opposite of man)
b) wife (woman married to a man)
c) female (of animals)
d) each, every (pronoun)

because: 3588
1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since

at
1) yea, indeed
b) when (of time)
1) when, if, though (with a concessive force)
c) because, since (causal connection)
d) but (after negative)
e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if
f) but rather, but
g) except that
h) only, nevertheless
i) surely
j) that is
k) but if
l) for though
m) forasmuch as, for therefore

she was barren: 6135
1) barren, sterile

answered: 6279 (means the same thing as - prayer )
1) to pray, entreat, supplicate

a) (Qal) to pray, entreat
b) (Niphal) to be supplicated, be entreated
c) (Hiphil) to make supplication, plead

him and Rebekah: 7259
Rebekah = "ensnarer"
1) daughter of Bethuel, sister of Laban, wife of Isaac, and mother of Esau and Jacob

Conceived: 2029
1) to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor
a) (Qal) to conceive, become pregnant
b) (Pual) to be conceived
c) (Poel) to conceive, contrive, devise

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Beginnings - Genesis 25 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 11 Jan 2010. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=25&t=NASB

Higgins, S. (2009). When A Husband Prayes For His Wife. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing, http://www.devotionsforthought.com/.