BARREN WOMEN WITH CHILDREN

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The title of this lesson contains a contradiction:  “Barren Women with Children.”  If a woman is barren, she can have not children.

 

B.   In the Bible, we read of seven barren women who bore children, however. 

1.    Sarai:  “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children…” (Gen. 16:1).

2.    Rebekah:  “And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren…” (Gen. 25:21).

3.    Rachel:  “…but Rachel was barren” (Gen.29:31).

4.    Manoah’s wife:  “…whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not” (Jud. 13:2).

5.    Hannah:  “…but Hannah had no children” (1 Sam. 1:2).

6.    The Shunamite woman:  “…Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old” (2 Kings 4:14).

7.    Elisabeth:  “And they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren…” (Luke 1:7).

 

C.   In Bible times, children were considered a gift from God (Ps. 127:3).

 

Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 

D.   Women who did not have children suffered in several ways.

1.    Personally, by shame

2.    Societally, by humiliation

3.    Familialy, by friction and strife

4.    Spiritually, by doubts and by accusation of wrong-doing or sin

 

E.   The seven barren mothers that we listed above each bore children and became mothers.

1.    Sara bore Isaac (Gen. 21:2).

2.    Rebekah bore Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:24-26).

3.    Rachel bore Joseph (Gen. 30:22-24) and Benjamin (Gen. 35:18).

4.    Manoah’s wife bore Samson (Jud. 13:24).

5.    Hannah bore Samuel (1 Sam. 1:20).

6.    The Shunamite woman bore a son (2 Kings 4:17).

7.    Elisabeth bore John the Baptist (Luke 1:57).

 

F.    In the remainder of this lesson, I want us to consider some broad lessons from the seven examples.

 

I.             LESSONS ABOUT GOD

 

A.   God has the power of life.

1.    In several of the examples given, the mothers were not just barren, they were passed the age of childbearing (Ex., Sarah, Gen. 17:17).

2.    God, however, intervened and enabled life to develop in the womb

a.    Sarah (Gen. 21:1-2)

 

And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.  For Sarah conceived…

 

 

b.    Rachel (Gen. 30:22)

 

And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

 

B.   God hears the prayers of his righteous servants.

1.    Isaac prayed for Rebekah (Gen. 25:21).

 

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren:  and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

 

2.    Hannah prayed for more than just a child.  She prayed for a man-child (1 Sam. 1:11, 19).

 

And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thine hand a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head…and the LORD remembered her.

 

C.   God was in charge of the scheme of redemption.

1.    The redemption of man through Jesus Christ was in God’s plan before the foundation of the world (1 Pet. 1:18-20; Eph. 3:8-11).

2.    God selected Abraham to be the father of the nation through which the Christ would be born into the world (Gen. 12:1-3; 22:18).

3.    During the days of Patriarchy, the Lord clearly proved that He was the one in charge of the scheme of redemption. 

a.    Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel were all to play a role in bringing the Christ into the world. 

b.    However, they needed God to provide them with children by removing their barrenness. 

c.    God made it clear that He was the one providing the children who would be connected to the lineage of the Christ.

 

II.           LESSONS ABOUT MAN

 

A.   Man must trust God regardless.

1.    Abraham and Sarah were past childbearing.  The Shulamite woman’s husband was in his old age.

2.    God, however, promised Abraham and Sarah a son.  And, the prophet Elisha promised the Shulamite woman a son.  Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist was promised a son by an angel of God who spoke to her husband.

3.    Two verses:

a.    Proverbs 3:5

 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

b.    Abraham’s example (Rom. 4:18-21).

 

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

 

1)    “And being not weak in faith (v. 19).

2)    “He staggered not at the promise of God” (v. 20).

3)    “…but was strong in faith” (v. 20).

4)    “And being fully persuaded” (v. 21).

 

B.   Prayer is a tool through which we can receive blessings from God.

1.    Matthew 7:7

 

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

 

2.    Ephesians 3:20

 

Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundant above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

 

3.    James 5:16b

 

…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

C.   There are times when God wants us to be patient and wait upon Him.

1.    Examples:

a.    Abraham had to wait twenty-five years.

b.    Leah had to wait through the birth of 10 sons to Jacob and the birth of a daughter before she conceived.

2.    Psalm 62:5

 

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

 

3.    We may have to wait for at least three things.

a.    God’s timing.

b.    God purposes to be brought to pass.

c.    God’s power to be executed in our lives.

 

III.         LESSONS ABOUT GOD’S BLESSINGS

 

A.   God’s blessings are available.

1.    Psalm 23:1

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

2.    Philippians 4:19

 

But God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ.

 

B.   Our blessings can become a test.

1.    Examples:

a.    Sarah was blessed with Isaac, but God tested Abraham’s faith with him (Gen. 22:2).

b.    Rebekah gave birth to Jacob and Esau, but even in the womb there was conflict between the two children (Gen. 25:22).

c.    Joseph was hated by his brethren and was sold into slavery and never saw his mother Rachel again (Gen. 37:28).

d.    Manaoh’s wife was blessed with Samson, but Samson was a difficult child for his parents at times (Jud. 14:3).

2.    Sometimes we ask God to bless us.  He does, then we put the blessings before God who gave them to us.  Thus, He tests us in order to see whether He or the blessing is loved more.

 

 

 

C.   God’s blessings should be used to His glory.

1.    Examples:

a.    Samson was a judge of Israel for twenty years (Jud. 15:20).

b.    Samuel was a prophet and judge in Israel.  His mother dedicated him to the Lord (1 Sam. 1:11) and took him to the temple when he was a small child (1 Sam. 1:28).

c.    John the Baptist was a prophet (Matt. 11:9) and the forerunner of Jesus Christ who lived the life of a true prophet and died a prophet’s death (Mark 1:2-3).

2.    God gives us things to love and enjoy.

a.    However, they are not intended simply for our prosperity.

b.    They are intended to be used to glorify God, extend the borders of His kingdom, and to help others.

1)    The kingdom of God and His righteousness come first (Matt. 6:33).

2)    As stewards, we are required to be faithful (1 Cor. 4:2).

3)    We are to glorify God in our body and in our spirit which are God’s (1 Cor. 6:20).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   This lesson has focused upon some of the lessons found centered in the seven barren women of the Bible who were blessed with children.

1.    Lessons about God

2.    Lessons about man

3.    Lessons about God’s blessings

 

B.   Psalm 113:9

 

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children.  Praise ye the Lord.

 

C.   Those last four words should sum up our attitudes and our lives.  “Praise ye the Lord.”