Being Childless: Biblical Perspective, Part III

For part two in these series, please click on Being Childless: Biblical Perspective, Part II

In II Kings 4:8, we read about a woman. She is referred to as a ‘great woman.’ II Kings 4: 8-10, ‘and it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was 

a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. Verse 9, and she said unto her husband, behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passed by us continually. Verse 10, ‘please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.’ You see her ministry to God’s mighty man. Verse 14, and Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no child, and her husband is old.” Verse 16, Elisha says, “About this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” Verse 17, ‘but the woman conceived, and bore a son….’

A woman having a compassionate heart for God’s people, a woman serving God’s prophet is barren. She in no way is a cursed woman. In spite of not having a child, she is not a bitter woman. She is not angry. On the contrary, she has a service attitude, she is a content woman. Verse 13, “and Elisha said to him, “say now to her, ‘look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” O, what a content woman.

Luke 1: 5-7, ‘there was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah, his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Verse 6, and they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Verse 7, but they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

See, righteous people, obeying God’s commandments, blameless and yet barren. God had a purpose in her being a barren and them being well advanced in years. God gave them a child, who was known as John the Baptist.

In all the instances where Bible talks about a woman being barren, it never associates barrenness to sin. In all the references, God had been glorified through the barrenness of the woman.

This discussion is incomplete without reference to II Samuel 6:23, ‘therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.’ ²⁰ Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

²¹ So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord. ²² And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”

For part four in the series, please click on Being Childless: Biblical Perspective, Part 4