The Barren Woman

# 4 – Today's Du-votional comes from 1Sa 1:2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Two wives. One producing offspring, the other barren. Where have we seen this pattern before? Abraham, Sarah and Hagar are the first trio that come to mind, and then there was Jacob, Rachael, and Leah. In all of these instances, we can't help but pick up on the great emotional pain and bitterness of these barren women. These women longed deeply for the sounds of little feet pitter pattering throughout the house, and they wanted them to be the little feet that God had formed in THEIR womb, not the womb of another. Why? What's the big deal about bearing children? Well, let's go back to the beginning. We read in Ge 1:28a, “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply;” Did you catch that? God blessed them! Children are a blessing from God. This truth is instilled in every heart of a woman. For some it may be buried under layers of societal pressure and customs, but in others it is always there, nagging at their biological clocks. “Lord, grant me a child! I do not want to miss out on Your blessing.” Being a man, I cannot fully grasp the depth of this desire in women. But it's clear from these examples in Scripture that it can be very powerful. Be careful in handling it. The desperation can lead to reliance on certain in vitro procedures that result in the selective death of embryos. I know it's hard, but use science within the parameters of God's Word and trust God. Bottom line is he alone opens and closes the womb. Father I pray for the barren women and men, grant them Your blessing of children.