Infertility and Barrenness in the Bible

Traci McCombs ^ | Apr 2022

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Barren women dominate the biblical narrative, and by no means are these women perfect. Sarai, Abraham’s wife, displayed unbelief, impatience, anger, and disrespect after waiting a lifetime for children. Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, waited twenty years to have a son. Leah and Rachel, sisters, married to Jacob, spent years in competition and felt deep envy towards one another. Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, was taunted for years by Peninnah and experienced depression. Elizabeth, wife of Zachariah, and Samson’s mother, wife to Manoah, both stood firm in their faith even when their husbands doubted God’s plans. The Shunammite woman begged for God to give her a son, and when all was lost, she displayed steadfast faith and courage. Even Ruth, the perfect daughter-in-law, experienced infertility.

God didn’t have to include details about infertility in the Bible. He could have easily skipped the parts about jealousy, anger, doubt, and faith and fast-forward to the happy endings. But God allows us to walk alongside these women.

Every barren woman mentioned in this post gave birth to at least one child. Every. Single One. God didn’t reserve the blessing of children for the women who showed the most faith. He didn’t look down and say, “Sarai… since you laughed at me, I’m not going to give you children.” God has a plan, and your actions cannot and will not change that. The only control you have is over your reaction to your situation. Will you find joy in the wait? Will you find peace amid your grief?

[CondoleezzaProtege]

The lesson here applies to matters of life beyond women and fertility…

[alternatives?]

But now, in the US, they are being trained that a career is more important. They will discover that a career is just a six-letter word for a three-letter word...job.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

? I think a lot of women struggle with infertility even if they’re younger. So many factors outside at play. But I think the main message is how God looked with favor upon the stigmatized women so that they can be an example of His faithfulness through impossible circumstances, through humiliation in the wait for a promise. Something all of us can appreciate whether we want children or not.

[DesertRhino]

Very interesting. I’ve never considered how many there are in the Bible.

[CurlyDave]

Very interesting. I’ve never considered how many there are in the Bible.

There are a lot more than most people think. Read Genesis 20:18 "...for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech..."

A that time, the house of Abimelech was larger than the house of Abraham.

[daniel1212]

But now, in the US, they are being trained that a career is more important. They will discover that a career is just a six-letter word for a three-letter word...job.

Not just the US. While in Biblical times a characteristic cry among the people of God was such as, "Give me children, or else I die," (Genesis 30:1) and beyond

While in 1800 US women on average had 7 children had her first child around the age of 23 and proceeded to bear children at two-year intervals until her early 40s (more of whom died before reaching adulthood than now), and in the baby boom era the average was 3.6 kids (where children made up 36 percent, vs. 22:% now), yet by 2021 it was 1.6.6, and with the median age for giving birth hitting an unprecedented age 30.

Usually meaning women working outside the home, and more money to spend on meals outside the home thus less cooking (besides more spoiled kids, who have no or maybe just one sibling to learn how to get along with and share, thus more being unduly fearful and intolerant of others).

Be celibate and continent as per God's will, or have as many as He gives, practicing temperance.

[daniel1212]

I think the main message is how God looked with favor upon the stigmatized women

Not just those, but

thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)

[alternatives?]

No. No. You don’t understand. They can have it all. It is like Joel Osteen preaches; you can have your best life.