Spring 1992

Three Barren Women Who Would Have Settled for Less
David Warner
PC Graduate

When we express our heart's desire to the Lord, we often fail to pray according to the Lord's plan and intent for us. His desire toward us is far greater than we can contemplate. This is illustrated in Scripture through the lives of three women; Elizabeth, the oath of God; Hannah, the grace of God; and Sarah, a princess.

Elizabeth and Zachariah had no child, and being advanced in years, the reproach of Elizabeth's barrenness lay heavy upon them. But they were righteous, walking blamelessly in all the ways of the Lord. In spite of their circumstances, they were not cast down, but chose to trust.

After all earthly ability had long since faded from Elizabeth's life and all lesser dreams had drained away, God intervened. Her season and the Lord's timing met. The heavenly broke in upon the natural, and an angel of the Lord declared, "Fear not ... for thy prayer is heard; ...Elizabeth shall bear ... a son ... and you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord" Luke 1:13-15a. He who would come forth through her would make ready a people for the Lord.

In their desire to lift this reproach of barrenness, they might have settled for far less than that which God intended both for them, and for His people, Israel.

In the life of Hannah we see a woman who was blessed and greatly loved by her husband. Yet to all outward appearances, Hannah, as a woman, was considered a failure because the Lord had purposely shut her womb. This became a source of constant torment and frustration. Her distress became a consuming passion and she cried out to the Lord for fulfillment.

But the Lord's desire toward her exceeded her passionate cry. In the midst of her torment and affliction, God was purging her motives and enlarging her heart, bringing them into alignment with those of the Eternal Lover of her soul. As Hannah prayed and wept in bitterness of soul, her prayer became prophetic and she vowed a vow. Her ardent desire became one with the Lord's as she surrendered to Him the son who was born of this prayer.

Hannah sang in exaltation, "My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God" I Samuel 2:1-2.

She had found the true source of her joy to be the Lord Himself, rather than in what He is able to give. God did a work in Hannah that not only affected her, but reached beyond her to all God's people. She might have settled for far less, but the Lord gave her far more than her highest dream.

Sarah, the wife of Abraham had also been barren. In her perplexity, she devised her own plan. By using carnal means, she satisfied her longing, not recognizing that God had far greater and higher plan. But Sarah soon found her plan having the reverse effect of what she expected. Bitterness replaced consolation. When she realized her wrong, she quickly repented, told Abraham she had wronged him, and asked for God's judgment.

In the midst of Sarah's desert-like barrenness, God enlarged her capacity and changed her name, her very nature. He called her Princess, revealing His tender mercy for her, and His high calling upon her life.

"Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women" Gen 18:11. This is always God's order. After Sarah had come to the end of her own ability, she heard the word of the Lord concerning her. And when she heard, she laughed at that which was beyond her hope. After much vexation, after much testing under the skillful hand of her Maker, her faith was perfected. "Sarah received strength to conceive seed when she was past age because she judged Him faithful who had promised" Hebrews 11:11.

Sarah had finally allowed the Lord to lift her beyond her natural capacity into the realm of the supernatural. In the boldness and strength imparted to her in this high realm of relationship, Sarah declared that the son, born through the conniving of her old nature, would not be heir with the son of promise. That which results from the flesh can never coexist with that which is truly spiritual.

Each of these three women would no doubt have settled for something less than God's best. Settling for less may have earned status in the eyes of man, but would have tragically brought them out from under the mighty hand of God.

His plan for our lives is far beyond what we would ask or think. The Lord desires fruit from our lives, far more than we. His zeal for His temple, which temple we are, is greater than our zeal will ever be. It is crucial to choose between what is of man, and what is of God.

As we submit to Him in our present circumstances, we will experience the wonder of His love, even as these three women did. These barren ones experienced the joy of the Lord while on this earth. Elizabeth proclaimed to Mary the birth of the Messiah. Hannah sang "My mouth is enlarged over my enemies because I rejoice in God my Savior". Sarah gave birth to laughter, Isaac. The world is not worthy of these.

The Lord is looking for those to whom He can say in this day, "Sing, O barren, thou that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate ..." Isaiah 54:1.