When we were dating, and long before we were engaged, Sherry and I talked about having children. It was something we both wanted. We even picked out names for our future kids (I still remember a little list we made). Once we were married for a couple of years, we began to practically anticipate parenthood. But nothing happened. And yes, we knew how to make babies.
Our Story
I remember a little saying we had each month: “Maybe baby?” Yet year followed year without Sherry getting pregnant. At times, my thoughts would go to believer friends who had gotten married the same time as us, and who had children of their own. I did my best not to be resentful or feel condemned, but it wasn’t always easy.
We did keep an attitude of being blessed no matter “whatsoever state” we were in (Philippians 4:11). In fact, we saw how much freedom we had to minister by not having children. We thanked God for the joy of being married to each other, whether we had kids or not. We have many married friends who have no children and love the life they have together. This is simply our story.
After being married for ten years, we did a few things to bring deliverance and “delivery.” We talked to a friend about adoption. She and her husband had adopted two children and then had a child of their own. In fact, her mother-in-law prayed with us and gave us a scripture to bolster our believing for God’s help in having children.
Zephaniah 3:17:
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Perhaps of greatest significance, Sherry immersed her heart in scriptures about having a baby, including records like Hannah, Elisabeth, Rachel—and Sarah. We did our best to make sure that we were in the best physical condition and sought medical advice. At that point, our heavenly Father did a few miraculous things (including just the right medical guidance, perhaps angelic intervention, and overcoming a typhoon). I remember the joy we shared knowing that at last, a baby was on the way.
When Sherry was seven months along, we flew from Guam to be near her family in California. Our son was born at a birthing center in Fountain Valley, and we were even able to cover the expenses with our health plan from Guam. We named him “Elijah” because of what that name means: “El (God) is Jah (Lord).” Literally, as God Almighty He is able to help us, and as our loving Lord He desires to answer our prayers. Our heavenly Father is willing and able!
We are so thankful to the Father for our son. As one believer used to say when Elijah was young, “He’s a beauty!” No one is perfect, but we could not think of a better child that we could have the joy and privilege of raising to love God.
Love and Marriage in Genesis: What We’ve Seen
In this series on Love and Marriage we have looked at the honest forgiveness of Adam and Eve, and the faithful obedience of Noah and his wife. Marriage requires honesty toward God and each other. That’s when we can accept God’s forgiveness and forgive each other as well. There are abundant benefits in faithfully obeying our heavenly Father. Even our children receive rich rewards by seeing our example of mutual love and believing.
From Adam and Noah’s family line came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These three believers and their wives are positive examples of marriage, and how to overcome the negatives that occur in life. Just as Adam and Eve overcame their sin, and Noah and his wife overcame the earth’s destruction, their offspring sought God’s help to overcome the evils in their day.
Abraham and Sarah: Trusting God’s Promises
Abraham and Sarah (originally named Abram and Sarai) are perhaps one of the most famous married couples in the Bible. Abraham is the “father” of all who believe, and he is called the friend of God (Romans 4:11; Isaiah 41:8). As a married couple, they believed to have a son who would be the ancestor of Jesus Christ. It wasn’t always easy for them, and they made mistakes along the way, but Abraham and Sarah trusted God!
Early on in their marriage, Abram went with his father, Terah, from Ur toward the land of Canaan, stopping to live in Haran. Of course, Abram’s wife, Sarai, went with them.
Genesis 11:31:
And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.
While in Haran, the Lord made a promise to Abram. Both Abram and Sarai trusted the Lord and responded to His promise.
Genesis 12:1-5:
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
And Abram took Sarai his wife.
Later, God made another promise to Abram—his offspring would be as numerous as the stars. Once again, Abram trusted the Lord. His believing was a righteous act!
Genesis 15:5,6:
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Trying to Do Things on Their Own
Despite God’s clear promises, Sarai had a plan of her own. She talked Abram into going along with it.
Genesis 16:2,4:
And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
When Hagar saw that she was pregnant and that Sarai was not, she despised her mistress. Think of the emotional grief that Sarai would have gone through. Yet God lovingly provided more encouragement to Abram and Sarai.
God’s Goodness to Abraham and Sarah
God looked at Abram’s heart and saw his trust in the Lord. The Lord told him that because of their trust in God, Abram and Sarai would be the father and mother of whole generations. So God changed their names accordingly!
Genesis 17:5,6,15,16:
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
God continued to show His goodness and lovingkindness to Abraham and Sarah. He sent an angel to confirm His promise to them.
Genesis 18:10:
And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.
God was faithful to carry out His promise to Abraham and Sarah when they trusted in Him.
Genesis 21:1-3,5,6:
And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac [laughter].
And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
Sarah laughed with thanksgiving at the birth of her son. She knew that others would rejoice with her at this wonderful and miraculous event.
Abraham and Sarah: Our Examples
The New Testament records the great impact this married couple has had on our lives as believers today. The miraculous birth of their son Isaac would have been an inspiration to Mary as she bore God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Abraham moved from his homeland and went where God told him to go because he trusted in God’s promise to him. Sarah was able to conceive in her old age because she trusted that God was faithful to keep His promise.
Hebrews 11:8-11:
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Sometimes God’s promises may seem impossible physically, but our heavenly Father is able to perform what He promises!
Romans 4:19-22:
And being not weak in faith, he considered…his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, [and]…the deadness of Sara’s womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded that, what he [God] had promised, he [God] was able also to perform.
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Abraham considered his aged body and Sarah’s too. He knew the physical obstacles facing them. But He knew that God was bigger than any challenge before them.
As married couples, when we are fully persuaded that God is able to perform what He promises, we will live righteously and glorify our heavenly Father. God may not promise every married couple that they will have a child in their old age. But He does promise great rest and comfort in marriage.
Ruth 1:9:
The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.
Hebrews 13:4:
Marriage is honourable [precious, valuable, of great reward] in all….
Abraham and Sarah served as great examples to their son Isaac. They raised him to love God. Next time, we’ll see how Isaac and his wife Rebekah loved God and each other. And we will see that they had the spiritual insight to raise their son Jacob, despite the challenges of their less spiritually minded son, Esau.
