Being Childless: Biblical Perspective, Part II

For first part on the topic, please click, Being Childless: Biblical Perspective, Part I

Children are a blessing from God. The Psalmist in Psalms 127: 3 says, 'lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.' It is the normal progression of a married life to have a child. Children complete your marriage. After a brief period in your marriage, to fill your life with joy, love and excitement, it is God's design for your family to have a child. It is natural for a couple to crave for a child.

You long for a child not to prove that you are a man or a woman. You long for a child not to prove your neighbors, society or relatives wrong. You long for a child not to continue your family line. You long for a child cos you love children. When you love children, why do you deprive yourselves of the joy of having a child through adoption?

Is it God's curse to not bear a child? In Genesis chapter 11 and verse 30, it says, 'but Sarai was barren; she had no child. The Bible does not comment on Sarai's sinfulness as the cause of her barrenness, but we all know that God had a purpose in her being barren. That He may glorify Himself. He did not want to share His glory. To ensure that all glory was ascribed to Him, He gave them the promised child when they were stricken in age.

Again in Judges Chapter 13, we see a woman, wife of Manoah, who was barren. In verse 2, it says, 'and his wife was barren and bore not. Does it talk about her sin being the reason? No it does not. See, what does it say, verse 3, 'And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Verse 24, so the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew and the LORD blessed him. We know what a mighty man of God Samson became.

God used her barrenness to bring glory to Himself. Her being barren was for a reason. To not let her glory but let all glory be ascribed to God. She was a proven barren. There was no way she could have said, this is my child.

I Samuel 1:2 say Hannah had no children. There is no comment on her sin. If there is any doubt of her being a sinful woman, you can discard that doubt by reading verse 7, which says, 'So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD.' She found her solace and comfort in the house of the LORD. In verse 11, where Hannah is praying in the house of the LORD. This is what she prays, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me and not forget your maidservant but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life." 

There is no comment for her reason to be barren. It just states a fact that she was barren. In verse 5, it says, 'the LORD had closed her womb.' verse 6, 'and her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. See, she was not despised by God. She was not reviled by God. She was humiliated by a fellow human being who did not understand the purpose of God. Then we know how God blessed Hannah with a child who she called Samuel who went on to become a mighty prophet of God.

For part three in these series, please click, Being Childless: Biblical Perspective, Part III