Intercession 

Pastor Duck's Weekly Column 

Taiwan Church News 2662, March 9, 2003 

Translated by David Alexander 

Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. (Genesis 25:21) 

Every week in the church that Siao-mei attends there are several prayer requests in the bulletin. The worship leader prays for a slected "family of the week", and for anyone who is sick, in hospital, or facing a challenge like an exam. Thanksgiving prayers are offered when there have been healings, successes, and births. 

When the "family of the week" was Siao-mei's, the worship leader called the night before to ask for any specific requests that could be included. Her little brother answered the phone, and, on learning what the caller wanted, said, "wait a minute." Then he shouted loudly so that everyone in the house could hear, "They're gonna pray for us in church tomorrow. Does anybody want anything?" 

His mother took the phone and talked quietly with the worship leader for a few minutes, then hung up. By then, the little brother had written up a list of things he had seen advertised on TV for inclusion in the church's prayers. He was disappointed that his mother would not "phone this in" for the next morning. 

"Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren." Barrenness was a shame among those ancient people. Some took it to be the judgment of heaven upon a woman for her sins. Nobody seemed to think the problem might be with the husband. 

Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because of something that she wanted and needed. O, yes, through her he would obtain an heir, so there was some advantage to him as well, but he prayed for her, that her shame might be taken away, and that she might be comforted. 

For whom do you pray? If your church bulletin has prayer requests written in it every week, do you pray for those people? Try it this week. 

Prayer: Thank you, God, that we are your "family of the week" every week, every day, every hour, every minute. AMEN