What Wisdom Do Infertile Couples in the Bible Offer? Part 1
After serving three years of ‘infertility time’ and suffering a miscarriage, my faith often seemed volatile. I wanted immediate results but came to know that more trust in God is what I needed. I prayed for wisdom to encourage me in my journey.
Did you know God uses historical stories in the Bible to impart wisdom on how to persevere in your fertility quest? Let’s chat about it.
In seven stories, God spells out His wisdom for dealing with infertility
“…imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12 NIV
Searching for God’s wisdom about my ordeal, I found seven examples of His people struggling with the pain of infertility. I call them the ‘Timeless Infertility Support Group.’ By preserving their stories, God has supplied perpetual guidance to those on a similar journey.
In Part 1 of this blog, we’ll take a look at the infertility experienced by three generations in one family who learned to seek and be obedient to God. Later this month, in Part 2, we will examine the lives of the other four infertile couples.
As you read them, observe what disciplines these Timeless Infertility Support Group members follow and how you see God responding to fulfill His mission for His kingdom..
Three generations in one family battled infertility
1. Abraham and Sarah started out with short-sighted faith: God promised Abraham (age 75 and childless) that he would have descendants and be the father of a great nation. (Genesis 12:1-3)
—Instead of waiting on God’s promise and trusting Him, Abraham and his wife Sarah had limited belief, grew restless, and moved forward with their own agenda. Following the cultural practice of the time, Abraham had a son by a slave woman, which caused numerous problems in his marriage.
—God had a long-term plan:
Despite their lapse in judgment, Abraham and Sarah grew in faith and obedience to God over many decades and learned to trust what He originally promised. When Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90, God was faithful, and they bore their son, ISAAC.
ISAAC’S birth marked the beginning of the people who formed Israel, the lineage for Jesus’s coming to earth, and the ancestry of all present-day believers.
2. For 20 years, ISAAC prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, Rebekah, because she was childless. (Genesis 25:21-26)
—God had a long-term plan: The Lord answered ISAAC’S prayers, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant with twins, Esau and JACOB.
JACOB would become the father to sons who headed the 12 tribes of Israel.
3. When JACOB and his wife Rachel faced infertility, Rachel sought God’s intervention. Initially, she was not a good example—Rachel did the same thing Sarah had done decades before. She followed cultural practices and offered a slave girl to her husband to have children.
—God had a long-term plan: Despite this poor choice, Rachel did pray and pursued His wisdom. God remembered Rachel after 14 years and “made her fruitful.” She bore JOSEPH (Genesis 30:22) and later BENJAMIN.
JOSEPH would become a leader in Egypt and establish a home for the Israelites during a time of famine. BENJAMIN would head one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Wisdom from these stories provides insight for your journey
***God has allowed infertility to challenge His people from the beginning chapters of the Bible. Be encouraged—your quandary is not new. God knows what you are facing.
As He demonstrates throughout the Scriptures, the Lord permits us to be humbled and tested. He wants to know what is in our hearts. (Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV) He has an awesome plan for us, with or without children.
***Persistent prayer (together or individually) became the cornerstone for each couple’s journey. Knowing that God could do all things, their faith resulted in surrender to His will instead of their own. Prayer instilled trust, perseverance, and faithfulness in the waiting. Are we able to consistently be patient, faithful to His commands, and develop godly character?
***God’s answer to their prayers fulfilled both their desires and His objectives for His kingdom. How God chooses to respond to a couple’s infertility honors what He knows is best for them and simultaneously offers a unique way for them to serve His purposes in His kingdom.
You can pray now for the God of the Holy Bible to help you embrace His wisdom.
Thank You, Lord, for providing me with examples of infertile couples in the Bible who interfaced with You as they struggled to have children. Even when they were faithless, You remained faithful and let them grow to trust You completely. (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV)
I desire for my husband and me to have great faith and depend on Your plans for our family life. How can we best serve You?
Our hope is in You—You are our Rock, our fortress, we will not be shaken…We want to trust You at all times, you are our refuge. (Psalm 62: 2,8)
Prompt us to reach out to You in prayer together and individually. We want to find delight in Your commands (Psalm 112). Build patience in us as we wait for Your direction. Slam the doors shut to us seeking alternatives for having a family that are not of you. Allow our fertility journey to bring glory to Your name. We ask all this in the name of Jesus.
Moving forward…
Ask yourself this:
Have I positioned my fertility journey as an opportunity for my husband and me to bond together in faith and strengthen our relationship with God? How can I use my experience from this journey to serve Him and His kingdom?
Consider this challenge:
With your spouse, consider discussing ideas on how to strengthen your prayer life together this year. Pray to be sensitive to opportunities to serve God. What is His mission for your marriage?
Watch for Part 2 of this post featuring four more stories of infertile couples in the Bible.
Please share this post with someone who might benefit.
Until next time, peace be with you,
Kimberly
P.S. You won’t want to miss the following posts that will equip you for your journey:
- How can you Intentionally Deepen your Spiritual Life in 2025?
- What Daily Devotion Works Best to Inspire Your Time with God?
- How Can You Get Personal with God Using His Language of Love?
- What Prayer Book Does God Provide as Your ‘Go-To’?
- Who Is Your Ultimate Prayer Partner? Part 2