What do you think happens when we pray? Why pray? Have you ever encountered a person who responded negatively when you offered to pray for them? Perhaps you’ve thought that all hope was lost, so the only thing left is to pray. Or maybe you have known someone who thought you should do more than “just pray,” as if prayer is equated to inaction.

Well, we’re going to explore what happens when we pray, and we will answer the question, “Why is prayer so important anyway?”

The First Prayer

What is the first prayer recorded in the Bible? Any first instance of a thing in the Bible is very important (for example, as a fun rabbit trail, what was the first thing the Lord did immediately after Adam and Eve sinned? – Gen. 3:8).

Here’s the first prayer found in Scripture:

“From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”” (Genesis 20:1-7 ESV) 

Abraham Is Afraid

Abraham the father of Isaac and grandfather of Jacob, the “Father of Faith,” settles in a new land where King Abimelech rules. He is afraid the people of the land might kill him on account of his beautiful wife, so he has his wife Sarah pretend she is his sister (Genesis 20:11, 20:2). 

The king takes Sarah to be his own wife, thinking all is good. But it is not. The Lord appears to Abimelech in a dream, revealing what is going on in the situation, as well as pronouncing Abimelech’s death because of this unintentional sin. Then the Lord refers to Abraham as a prophet and says Abraham will pray for Abimelech, so that he wouldn’t die! The word for “pray” is first used by God Himself in this passage to a pagan king. Fascinating!

“Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.” (Genesis 20:17 ESV)

The very first prayer recorded in the Bible is introduced by God Himself in a dream to a pagan king, and the result of the first prayer, prayed by none other than the Father of Faith, Abraham, heals a man from certain death as well as heals the man’s wife and female servants so they can get pregnant.

Prayer is powerful!

Now, I doubt the first prayer recorded in the Bible is the first prayer ever prayed. However, it’s very important to pay attention to the “first things” principle in the Bible. For example, check out the first time the Greek word ‘charis’ is used in the New Testament, the word commonly translated as ‘grace.’ It may surprise you who utters the word first!

Isaac’s prayer

It doesn’t take too long before the next generation gets a chance to play. And yes, I did mean ‘play’! Spiritual abilities or gifts are often found in generational lines. So it’s no surprise that Abraham – you know, the guy who prays the first recorded prayer – has a son named Isaac who also prays.

In Genesis 24, we see an incredible story of Abraham’s servant being sent to their extended family to find a wife for Isaac. Rebekah is her name, and she comes back and becomes Isaac’s wife. The Bible says at the end of Genesis 24 that Isaac is comforted by his new wife, since his mom had passed away not too long prior.

Except there’s a problem. Rebekah cannot have children. Back in that day, this was a huge deal, because all the land and inheritances and promises flowed to the children. Plus, God had promised Abraham that he will have descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 22:16-18). Likely in Rebekah’s and Isaac’s minds, this promise is in trouble. But, taking a lesson from his father and standing on his father’s promise (for he had yet to receive the promise from God), Isaac utters a prayer. The prayer is tucked away in a chapter dedicated to genealogies and is easily missed.

Isaac Prays For His Wife

“And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” (Genesis 25:21 ESV)

Included in this verse is a multi-month process. How long after Isaac prays and the Lord answers the prayer do you think they know about the pregnancy? Likely more than 6 weeks. Probably closer to 8 or 12 weeks. Unless they specifically hear from the Lord that the prayer is answered, they have to continue in belief and faith that the Lord will answer Isaac’s prayer.

Are you and your spouse having issues getting pregnant? Why not pray and ask the Lord for direction? He may just miraculously heal you or lead you on an emotional healing journey or guide you to the right physician or chiropractor. Husbands, lay hands on your wife and pray for her to be able to have kids. Wives, lay hands on your husband and pray for him to be able to have kids. Believe in the power of Jesus for your children and your future family. It’s worth it.

Hezekiah’s Prayer

Years and years after Abraham and Isaac live, the nation that springs from their children, Israel, has split into two countries: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Judah is in desperate trouble. You see, they have just celebrated one of the most monumental Passover celebrations that has ever been observed. They sacrifice so many sheep and bulls and have constant prayer and praise to the Lord. It is such an epic commemoration of the Passover that they agree to extend it from one week to two weeks (2 Chronicles 30)!

But now, lurking just outside their borders, is King Sennacherib of Assyria. King Sennacherib has just conquered the northern country of Israel. He has sights set on the capital of Judah, the city of Jerusalem. As Judah’s King Hezekiah gets prepared for an attack, King Sennacherib sends his military commanders with a message for King Hezekiah and the people.

The Message

“Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”? … Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?

Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’” (2 Chronicles 32:10-11, 14-15 ESV)

Not only is King Sennacherib denying the power of King Hezekiah, but he blasphemes the Holy God of Israel! But, he actually has good reason to, because he has taken over land after land. He is an unstoppable force at that moment in history.

What do you think King Hezekiah does next? What would you do next? Well, you may have guessed it, but Hezekiah decides to pray, a very good choice I might add.

The Prayer

“And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: ‘O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.’” (2 Kings 19:15-19 ESV)

What an amazing prayer! Hezekiah humbles himself before the Lord and asks for salvation. Can you guess what happens next? The Lord answers King Hezekiah’s prayer. The Lord sends his prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah with a message.

“Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: “Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. … Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the LORD. For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”’” (2 Kings 19:20, 32-34 ESV)

His Fate

What happens to King Sennacherib and his army of Assyrians? We learn in the next few verses his fate.

“And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at Nineveh. And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.” (2 Kings 19:35-37 ESV)

Prayer is powerful. Hezekiah’s prayer is powerful, and something amazing happens after his prayer. King Hezekiah expects the Lord to respond to his prayer, and the Lord does respond. God responds with a prophecy and message from the prophet Isaiah. God responds by sending an angel to strike down the enemy. The Lord is responsive to King Hezekiah’s prayer, and the history of the Assyrian nation is changed. In fact, the Assyrians fall into a downhill trajectory in terms of power. As a result, the Babylonians take their place as the powerhouse in that region.

Your Prayers are Powerful

Your prayers are also powerful. Something happens when we pray. 

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16 NIV)

The prayer of a righteous person (you, who are made righteous by the blood of Christ) is powerful, and it is effective.

Whether you are praying for healing, for protection, for salvation, know that your prayers are powerful. Your prayers are important. 

The act of prayer puts you in a posture of hearing from the Lord and agreeing with Him. Coming into agreement with the Lord and His ways is of paramount importance!

Expect something to happen when you pray. Put your joyful expectation of good (aka hope) in God Himself, and watch how He works on your behalf. Believe in the name of Jesus Christ (1 John 3:23); believe that He will work for you and does work in you (Philippians 2:13).

Tune in next week for Part 2!