Throughout our infertility journey, I have found comfort reflecting on women in the Bible who were also barren for a season. In studying these women, I found it interesting how their lives and their children's lives played a unique role in Biblical history, as they ultimately point us to Christ.
Sarah
Sarah and Abraham received a specific promise from God that they would bear children who would make up a great nation. However, even with this specific promise, they struggled to wait, to trust, and to rest. They tried to obtain this promise on their own through deceit and a surrogate. Yet God was still gracious, despite their sin. After 25 years of waiting, Sarah gave birth to a son named Isaac who became part of the lineage of Christ (Genesis 21).
Rebekah
Rebekah and Isaac longed for children and endured 20 years of infertility. While they did not receive a specific promise from God as Sarah and Abraham, Isaac prayed fervently for his wife and she gave birth to twin boys, Jacob and Esau. This story most clearly depicts God's plan for redeeming a people to Himself, to choose by grace and not merit, for Jacob He loved and Esau He hated. We also see how powerful prayer is in a believer's life and the importance of a praying husband. Rebekah and Isaac's son Jacob would give rise to the great nation promised to Abraham, and 12 of his sons would become the 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis 25).
Rachel
Rachel's story is a painful one, with so much waiting and heartache. Rachel endures great anguish as she watches her sister Leah give birth to not only one, but six children. So hard! We learn many things from Rachel. We learn that the pain of infertility runs deep causing grief and depression. We learn the importance of ridding ourselves of idol worship and being satisfied in God alone. Rachel named her first child Joseph, meaning "give me another." Rachel then died in childbirth with her second son. But how merciful God is! Rachel's story shows us that despite our sin, our idol worship, and ugliness, He is still gracious to give us good gifts, even gifts we desire, that He may receive all the glory. Rachel's son, Joseph would later save His family, God's people, from famine and death (Genesis 30).
Manoah's Wife
We are not given her name, but we know she was barren. The angel of the Lord visited her and proclaimed that though she was barren she would have a son and this son would begin to save the Israelites from the Philistines. The Israelites were in great distress after doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord and had been given over to the Philistines. Manoah's wife was also in great distress for she was barren and "bearest not." And God came to both Israel and Manoah's wife in their deepest affliction. Matthew Henry remarks, "God often sends comfort to His people very seasonably, when they feel most from their troubles." Manoah's son, Samson, was a type of Christ who came to deliver God's people, and again God used a once barren woman to bring relief to His people (Judges 13).
Hannah
Hannah. One of my favorites, and probably because God allows us to observe her struggles a little closer than the others. For some reason, God focuses the lens on Hannah's life for us, and this focus is beautiful. Hannah teaches us to be patient under affliction, to listen to our husbands, to be fervent in prayer, to heed reproof, to remain composed when persecuted, and to leave our sorrows with God. She did not harden herself in sadness and bitterness but entered the Throne of Grace, emotions and all, in prayer. We see again how difficult infertility truly is and we see God comforting His child as she cried out to him in desperation. We too, can cry out to God in distress, with raw emotions and openness. He will be there to answer, to comfort, and to heal. Hannah's son, Samuel, would become the last and greatest judge of Israel (1 Samuel 1). (Here is a sermon David recently preached on Hannah and her prayerful faith.)
Elizabeth
Elizabeth and Zechariah were known as the Lord's ministers. They were faithful. They kept God's commands. They served. Their uprightness was evident in their speech, their love towards others, and their devotion to the Lord and His people. Yet they were childless. Elizabeth was barren and as they aged they began to despair. Zechariah was seen constantly at the temple in prayer, lifting up his heart to God. And it was here that the angel of the Lord appeared to him and revealed that his prayers had been heard and he would soon bear a son.
"Prayers of faith are filed in heaven, and are not forgotten, though the thing prayed for is not presently given in." Matthew Henry
Again, we see the importance and power of prayer to bring about the miracle of new life in the barren woman. Elizabeth's son, John the Baptist, would prepare the way of Lord (Luke 1).
God cares about the barren woman. He takes time to specifically speak about infertility in His Word. He makes it clear that He and He alone has the power to open and close the womb, and He does so for very unique purposes that display His glory. This gives me great peace, knowing God is in control and just as He could be trusted with the lives of the women in the Bible, He can be trusted with my life too.
~ Paige
