Page 17 - The Marriage Covenant

me." And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse
children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."

Rachel, the favorite wife of Jacob remained barren while her sister bore many
children. She cried out in her desperate desire for children. Her complaint even arose before
her husband.

Genesis 30:1-2
Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her
sister; and she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die." Then Jacob's anger
burned against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld
from you the fruit of the womb?"

See Rachel’s desperate desire to raise up godly offspring. She said, “Give me children,
or else I die!” What a reproach this is to Christian women today who have used
contraceptives and birth control, who have elected to have surgery, in order that they might
have the pleasure of sexual intercourse without raising up children. The ungodly influence
of the world has affected the thoughts of the people of God. They say “Let me have one or
two children, and that is enough.” They think of the expense and the responsibility of a
larger family, and wanting to maintain their freedoms and a high standard of living, they
cast away the most precious gift Yahweh has given to mankind, the ability to raise up a
godly offspring. Many even kill the baby while it is developing in the womb, an act of the
most profound horror and selfishness.
Jacob undertook for his wife Rachel to provide the children she desired, but her womb
remained barren. Finally, God heard her plea of desperation and opened her womb. She
gave birth to Joseph, and later to Benjamin. It is perhaps no coincidence that Jacob’s
godliest son arose from the most desperate cry for children.
Later we read of Hannah, who was also barren. She pled with God for a son in such
agony of spirit that when the High Priest Eli observed her, he thought she was drunk.

I Samuel 1:10-16
And [Hannah], greatly distressed, prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly. And she
made a vow and said, "O Yahweh of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction
of Thy maidservant and remember me, and not forget Thy maidservant, but wilt give
Thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a
razor shall never come on his head." Now it came about, as she continued praying
before Yahweh, that Eli was watching her mouth. As for Hannah , she was speaking
in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought
she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, "How long will you make yourself drunk? Put
away your wine from you." But Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a
woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have
poured out my soul before Yahweh. Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless
woman; for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.”

People of God, can you see that this is the purpose of the marriage union of the man
and woman? From the beginning of creation, when God created them male and female, He
spoke to them the command to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” If we bear the