“REMEMBERED IN PRAYER”
OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: Genesis 30 (Focus vs.1–2, 22–24)
MEMORY VERSE
“Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her.” Genesis 30:22
BACKGROUND
In the large African church, the pastor fell to his knees, praying to God. “Remember us!” As the pastor pleaded, the crowd responded, crying, “Remember us, Lord!” Watching this moment on YouTube, I was surprised that I shed tears too.
The prayer was recorded months earlier. Yet it recalled childhood times when I heard our family’s pastor make the same plea to God. “Remember us, Lord!”
Hearing that prayer as a child, I’d wrongly assumed that God sometimes forgets about us. But God is all-knowing (Psalm 147:5; 1 John 3:20), He always sees us (Psalm 33:13–15), and He loves us beyond measure (Ephesians 3:17–19).
Even more, as we see in the Hebrew word zakar, meaning “remember,” when God “remembers” us, He acts for us. Zakar also means to act on a person’s behalf.
Thus, when God “remembered” Noah and “all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark,” He then “sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded” (Genesis 8:1).
When God “remembered” barren Rachel, He “listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son” (30:22–23).
What a great plea of trust to ask God in prayer to remember us! He’ll decide how He answers. We can pray knowing, however, that our humble request asks God to move.
By: Patricia Raybon
INSIGHT
Jacob had twelve sons from whom came twelve tribes that formed the nation of Israel—these are the simple facts. But Genesis 29 and 30 describe the complicated backstory of Israel’s genesis.
Included is how scheming and striving, competition and rivalry—and prayer—factored into the making of this nation. Leah, the wife that Jacob didn’t choose (29:25), became the fruitful wife who bore him six sons (30:20)—half of the tribes!
His beloved wife Rachel, though initially barren, was the mother of two of Jacob’s sons (vv. 22–23; 35:17–18). Two female servants, Bilhah (30:3–8) and Zilpah (vv. 9–13), bore him two sons each.
We’re told that God heard Leah’s (v. 17) and Rachel’s (v. 22) prayers regarding childbearing. The dynamics of a very complex household included hearts crying out to God in prayer and God remembering them.
By: Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
In what area of your life do you need God to remember you? How willing are you to pray with such intent and purpose?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?.. Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” Isaiah 49:15
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“…Hearing that prayer as a child, I’d wrongly assumed that God sometimes forgets about us. But God is all knowing…He always sees us,… and He loves us beyond measure.
*YOUR TAKE?
PRAYER
“Dear heavenly Father, grow my understanding of Your remembrance of me. Then, where I need You to act, please remember me.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL
“O LORD REMEMBER ME” Timothy Dudley-Smith
O Lord, remember me;
hide not from me your face;
my counselor, my comfort be,
my guide, O God of grace.
Be near to take my part;
on you my soul relies;
give wisdom to this anxious heart
and light before my eyes.
I trust in you alone
to keep me, all my days,
in mind of all your mercies shown,
that all my song be praise.
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF HOSEA CHAPTERS 8-14
THE BOOK OF MATTHEW CHAPTERS 8-15