9/20/21-BARREN….TO GIVE BIRTH TO PURPOSE.

What do all these women have in common? They were all considered barren. But whenever God mentions your name pay attention! He’s about to change your life for His glory. He knows how to make the desert bloom like a rose, and provide rivers in the wilderness. The Father delights in fruitfulness and calls those things that are not as though they were.

Sarai

Rebekah

Rachel

Hannah

Manoah’s wife

Elizabeth

In the natural realm they were all barren, unable to bear children. But was it by design? According to the Bible account of these women though they were called barren, their barrenness was designed to serve the purposes of God. For the pregnancy of all of them produced some of the greatest biblical figures in all of mankind. God has a plan and purpose for all of us. Some may come with twists and turns, but they all eventually align themselves with the plan of God. In the set time of our all knowing God, opportunity always catches up with purpose. Who knows, maybe your barrenness in whatever area you may be experiencing a dry season, may be the scenario God needs to bring glory to Himself while blessing you in the process.

We’ll take a look at each woman’s journey and how the opening of their wombs impacted their generation and the world. It’s amazing that in an era where women were hardly acknowledged by name, that God allowed all but one Name to be mentioned. But it doesn’t take away from the significance of the birth of her son. And all these women incidentally gave birth to sons. Leaders of their generation as they walked in obedience to God. I pray the familiarity of these accounts won’t make you overlook the hand of God at work in their life and yours. He’s the same God who does the miraculous and the supernatural. He still opens wombs. Business wombs, spiritual wombs, academic wombs,singleness wombs, marital wombs, relational wombs, discerning wombs, intellectual wombs, social justice wombs, defender of the unborn wombs, leadership wombs, all these wombs are locked away in those once thought barren. But God has His reveal party in the wings. You’ll never be too old and the timing is impeccable. He’ll show up when all hope is lost, when we’ve given up on the possibility of ever giving birth. He’ll show up in our intercessory prayers, in our pleadings. But if we’ll wait, we’ll see that there was a purpose in our barrenness after all.

Your assignment will be to take the time and read the scriptures that I will give to you. It’s more exciting when you spend the time reading on your own. Yes, I know it’s easier if I write it out, but then you’d complain that the messages are too long. I can’t win. But I’ll have to on occasion remove the binky and replace it with the sippy cup. Just grab a cup or glass of your favorite beverage and enjoy finding out which mom gave birth to whom and the role they played in God’s divine plan.

Judges 13-16

Genesis 11:30; Genesis 15, 17, 18, 21

Genesis 25:19-24

Genesis 30 & 35, 39-45

1 Samuel 1, 3, 7

Luke 1, 3,

If you have taken the time to read the suggested readings you’ll see that all these barren women gave birth to the Lord’s plan in appointed seasons. They played significant roles in bringing to pass covenant promises. What may have been perceived as a curse turned out to be a blessing in disguise. When God mentions or calls you by name, get ready for the supernatural to occur. Isaiah’s famous words are applicable here.

“Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the Lord. “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities. “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is His Name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. For the Lord has called you back from your grief— as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,” says your God.”Isaiah‬ ‭54:1-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is good news for those who feel as though they are barren, not serving a specific purpose. The Lord has not forgotten about you. Sing! Because His promises are sure. From Isaac came a generation without numbers. From Jacob came a deliverer who preserved Isaac’s descendants. Samuel was Israel’s first prophet, John the Baptist was the forerunner to Jesus' earthly ministry, Samson defeated Israel’s enemies. Don’t give up on your dreams to be fruitful. To everything there is a season. Your season is coming!

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant

September 20, 2021