Patriarchs
Psalm 103.17

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children -

Thursday evening was finally coming to an end. A baby, born in the midst of turmoil, had been transported to intensive care far away. Young parents were now separated by hours and miles; she was left behind to heal from the wound inflicted on her infant's behalf, he was keeping vigilance over the babe in a plastic crib with tubing and wires in place.

The young mother's father at last arrives home. I hear him dial the phone, placing a call to her husband's father far away in Pittsburgh. "Larry, I thought that as the fathers and grandfathers, we should pray together." They begin in earnest faith to intercede on behalf of their progeny.

As I heard - as I comprehended - as I realized what was transpiring, I paused in breathless expectancy. All of creation seemed to stand still for a moment in time. "Hush! Something wondrous is happening. Power is being tapped, faith is released, God is on the move. Patriarchs are agreeing in prayer, speaking blessing over their children's children."

There could be no doubt. God would hear. He would listen. This was a prayer of His own making - this was a patriarchal blessing. The undeniable weight of their words resounded beyond this finite realm reaching into the secret place, laying hold of eternal truth. These were the patriarchs - declaring truth, denying the prince of this world, honoring the Lord their God, the God who had shown Himself faithful to them and theirs through the years. Two patriarchs were beseeching the God of heaven and earth for His perfect will to be accomplished: blessing upon their children's children.

I realized the peculiar specialness of the moment I was witnessing. God was thoroughly invested in this juncture because this was His plan from the beginning - the unity of patriarchs serving their posterity. He intends to build from generation to generation, imparting strength and glory successively. Here was a moment of eternal consequence; His was a vehement involvement. This exigency would allow His great faithfulness to find motion. With restrained passion He was watching and waiting for the cry to come so that He could unleash the fullness of His power and vengeance upon the enemy of His people.

It has come! Behold and tremble, all you who would set yourselves in opposition to the Lord's own children! See the mighty power of the Lord of Hosts!

It has come! Behold, you saints of the Lord who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Stand and see the salvation of the Lord!

It has come! Behold, all the earth and all therein! How wondrous is His glorious Name in all the earth; let His Name be praised forevermore!