“You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.” Judges 13:3

What do Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah’s wife, Hannah, and Elizabeth have in common? They all wanted to have children but were unable. We say that they were all barren or childless.

We realize that the gift of having children is a blessing from God. Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” In Bible times it was especially difficult for women to realize they would not have any children. These women went through great distress. Frustrated, Rachel told her husband, Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” (Genesis 30:1). In 1 Samuel 1:6, we read of Hannah being teased about her struggle: “Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.”

Although these women suffered from barrenness, God answered all their prayers with a child, even in ages far beyond childbearing years. When Rachel gave birth, the Bible says, “She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, ‘God has taken away my disgrace’” (Genesis 30:23).

Among Hebrew women, giving birth to a son was a special blessing, for he would carry on the family name, care for his parents, and perhaps even be of the line of Jesus.

Why did God allow so many women to be barren? Was there a purpose behind their childlessness? Perhaps God was teaching us all that it is he who directs our lives. He is in control, and he has our best interest at heart even though it may not seem so on the surface. Thank God that he cares for you!

From the book “Precious Words of the Bible” by Reynold R. Kremer