« Knowledge (of the Bible) in the Wrong Hands is Dangerous | Main | Just some funny clips from the Interweb »
Barren Wombs and Many Happy Mother’s Days
By Julie | May 12, 2008
Marc and I spent Mother’s Day at Faith Bible Church. We’d never been there before. It is a much larger church then we’re used to. Our former church had around 50 people regularly. Faith Bible Church has two back-to-back sermons. According to the program they hand out, each sermon has over 400 people. It was not exactly our comfort zone. And it’s been years since I’ve been to a church where I know no one.
But, when the sermon started, I became so engrossed in the topic, and presentation, I forgot my uneasiness. Marc dug into the Bible references throughout the sermon, and the two of us read and listened. It was an incredible sermon. The Topic: “The hope of the world would take place through the womb of a woman.”
But, before Mary could give birth to Jesus, his family tree was written with women who went through years of barrenness. God determined it was Abraham’s family tree Jesus would come through. But, Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was barren until she was 80. That poor woman, having to go through childbirth at such an old age! Her son, Isaac married Rebekah, who suffered through 20 years of barrenness in her marriage. Her twins were born when she was 60. Their son Jacob (who was a manipulator) was manipulated by his father-in-law into marrying Leah, when he really wanted Leah’s sister, Rachel. Jacob gave years of work to his father-in-law to marry Rachel, also. Great, now he had two wives. But, Rachel, the wife he really loved, was barren as she watched his sister give their husband years of children. Finally she gave Jacob a son, Joseph. Later she had another son, Benjamin, she died in child birth to bring him into the world.
Also in Jesus’ family tree was Rahab. Rahab was a prostitute. By her profession she had many opportunities to have children. Yet, she did not until she had Boaz, a descendant of Jesus. Boaz married Ruth. Ruth was previously married to Naomi’s son who died and left Ruth a widow. Ruth vowed to stay with Naomi and care for her. The two women returned to Naomi’s homeland. Where she met and later married Boaz.
Then, within Jesus’ family, Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, after years of being barren. This was a sign to Jesus’ mother, Mary, that God could perform the miracle of giving her a child even though she had never been with a man.
This part of the sermon the minister took a pause to recap his point:
Sarah should have had children, but couldn’t.
Rebekah should have had children, but couldn’t.
Rachel should have had children, but couldn’t.
Rahab had lots of chances to have children, but didn’t.
Ruth could have had children in her first marriage, but didn’t.
Elizabeth should have had children, but couldn’t.
For thousands of years God proved he could beat all odds in providing children to women who should not have had children, or should have and didn’t. He provided miracles along the way before providing the ultimate miracle: Mary was the woman whose womb brought hope to the world. Which leaves us with the obvious:
The Virgin Mary, in no way should have had a child, but she did.
As the Bible states, a child is a gift from God to us. They are our reward:
Sons are the heritage from the Lord,
Children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
Are Sons born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame when they
contend with their enemies in the gate. – Psalm 127:3-5
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there!
Topics: Awesome People, Faith | No Comments »
