What other biblical figures faced similar challenges as Sarai in Genesis 11:30? The challenge in view “Now Sarai was barren; she had no children.” (Genesis 11:30) Others who knew the same ache • Rebekah – “Later Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.” (Genesis 25:21) • Rachel – “Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb.” (Genesis 30:22; see 30:1 for her anguish) • Manoah’s wife (Samson’s mother) – “There was a man named Manoah… whose wife was barren and had no children. And the Angel of the LORD appeared… ‘You are barren and have no children, but you will conceive and give birth to a son.’ ” (Judges 13:2-3) • Hannah – “The LORD had closed her womb.” (1 Samuel 1:5-6) … “So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son.” (1 Samuel 1:20) • The Shunammite woman – “She has no son, and her husband is old… ‘At this time next year you will hold a son in your arms.’ ” (2 Kings 4:14, 16) • Elizabeth – “They had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were well along in years.” (Luke 1:7; cf. 1:13) • Michal – “And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.” (2 Samuel 6:23) Common threads worth noticing – A season of waiting that felt permanent – Honest cries or prayers before God (Isaac prayed, Hannah wept, Zechariah petitioned) – Divine intervention that left no doubt the child was a gift, not mere coincidence – Each birth advanced God’s redemptive plan (Jacob’s twelve tribes, Samson as judge, Samuel the prophet, John the Baptist heralding Messiah) Distinctive details – Motives vary: Rachel envied, Hannah vowed, Elizabeth simply served faithfully – Outcomes vary: most received a child; Michal remained childless as a consequence of dishonor (2 Samuel 6:20-23) – The promised-child motif intensifies: from Isaac to Samuel to John, God keeps escalating the significance of these miracle births Takeaway for today Scripture repeatedly shows that barrenness never limits the Lord. Where human strength ends, His creative power begins, weaving personal pain into His larger story of redemption. |
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