Tag: Rebekah

Day 15: Genesis 25

“And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord” (Psalm 25:22).

Matthew Henry’s comment on Rebekah’s words are apropos. He notes,

“Before, the want of children was her trouble, now, the struggle of children is no less so” (124).

Further, he noted,

“(1.) The comforts we are most desirous of are sometimes found to bring along with them more occasion of trouble and uneasiness than we thought of; vanity being written upon all things under the sun, God thus teaches us to read it.

(2.) We are too apt to be discontented with our comforts, because of the uneasiness that attends them. We know not when we are pleased; we know neither how to want or how to abound” (124).

In regard to this, Henry insightfully continues,

“[1.] In the world. The seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent have been contending ever since the enmity was put between them…and this has occasioned a constant uneasiness among men. Christ himself came to send fire on earth, and this division, Luke 12:49, 51. But let not this be an offence ot us. A holy war is better than the peace of the devil’s palace” (124).

“[2.] In the hearts of believers. No sooner is Christ formed in the soul than immediately there begins a conflict between the flesh and the spirit, Gal 5:17. The stream is not turned without a might struggle, which yet ought not to discourage us. It is better to have a conflict with sin than tamely submit to it” (124).

What did Rebekah do? Rebekah took her question to the Lord, as noted, “And she went to enquire of the Lord” (Gen 25:22 b).

In regard to this enquiry, Henry notes,

“The word and prayer, by both which we now enquire of the Lord, give great relief to those that are upon any account perplexed. It is a great relief to the mind to spread our case before the Lord, and ask counsel at his mouth. Go into the sanctuary, Psalm 73:17″ (124).

This passage stuck out to me, as I think of my family. As a child and a parent, I have seen both sides. These reflections cause me to be thankful for my parents, who contended with me, and to empathize with my children, who are under me.

Thank you, Lord, for your provision, in regard to my parents and my children. Help me to honor my parents rightly and give my children no cause to dishonor me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Henry, Matthew. “Volume 1: Genesis.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

© 2025 Angela Hormberg