Parasha: Toldot – Generations
Torah: Bereishit 25:19 – 28:9
Did you ever pray for something that didn’t happen? The Scriptures give us several examples of prayers that receive “No” for the answer.
This week’s Torah portion has several examples of prayers that were answered in a positive way. Here is the first one:
And Yitzaak prayed to Avinu for his wife, because she was barren. And Avinu granted his prayer, and Rivkah his wife conceived. (Bereishit 25:21 )
Why did Yitzak get a positive answer to his prayer? Here is what Yeshua teaches us:
1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said to them, When you pray, say, Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us Your Supernatural bread this day. 4 And forgive us our sins; as we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Lu 11:1-4)
Yeshua gives us the “model prayer”. It begins with a humble acknowledgement of some of the attributes that our Heavenly Father possesses. This humble acknowledgement puts us in the right position to present our requests. The requests end the model prayer.
5 And he said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of my in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you. 8 I say to you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs. (Lu 11:5-8)
Yeshua encourages us to present our supplications often. The repetition might be an indication of just how badly we “need” what we are asking for.
9 And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 10 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. (Lu 11:9-10)
James gives a little more understanding of the process:
1 From where come wars and fights among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. 3 You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with Avinu? whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of Avinu. 5 Do you think that the scripture said in vain, The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy? (Jas 4:1-5)
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of Avinu, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of Avinu. (Jas 1:5-7)
Here is the final and probably the most important step in submitting a successful prayer:
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Lu 11:5-13)
We all have “needs” and “wants” that we would like to receive from Avinu. Sometimes we ask for a Healing and we really need more faith. We might need more patience and we are praying for something to happen “right now”.
Avinu tells us that He is delighted when we ask for His Holy Spirit!
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