Rebekah

It continues to amaze me how frequently the topic of infertility is written about in the bible. In my last post, I talked about Sarah and her longing for a child that was finally fulfilled in her son, Isaac. Just a few chapters later in Genesis (Gen. 25), we read about the story of Isaac and his wife, Rebekah. I realized as I read through this that it's no wonder I missed it. The mention of their struggle is brief. In verse 21, we read "...Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren." It's not until after the details of the birth of their twins--Jacob and Esau--that we understand that Rebekah had been barren for nearly 20 years. I can't even fathom that! Twenty years is probably 2/3 of the window of time for fertility for women today. I know people lived much longer in the OT, but 20 years is a long time to wait for a child. Especially when there is no medical technology to determine the problem and no fertility drugs or other means of assistance to aide in achieving pregnancy. The verses that really catches in my throat as I read it are verses 21-22. "Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived." (emphasis added). I love how the bible talks of the husband's involvement in the longing for a child. This is not just a burden or heartache that the women bears alone. We read about Abraham's longing for a descendant. Now Isaac pleads to the Lord to open Rebekah's womb. And all that junk from before about the lack of medical intervention: God didn't need it! He intervened and provided Isaac and Rebekah with, not one, but TWO children. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the advances that medicine has provided. I know several couples (us included) who have children because of opportunities like fertility drugs, AI, and IVF. I just feel like God continues to remind me not to get bogged down in the stress and worry that accompany my uncooperative body, and not to jump to conclusions about what I need to do. He is able. I need only to ask.