Examples of Childlessness

• Abraham & Sarah - Gen 16:1-6, 17:15-21, 18:9-15, 21:1-7.
• Issac & Rebekah - Gen 25:19-26.
• Jacob & Rachel - Gen 28:13-14, 29:31, 30:1-8, 22-24, 35:16-20.
• Jacob & Leah - Gen 30:9-21.
• Boaz & Ruth - Ruth 4:13.
• Elkanah & Hannah - 1 Sam 1:1-20, 2:18-21.
• David & Michal - 2 Sam 6:20-23.
• Zacharias & Elizabeth - Lk 1:5-79.

• Childlessness may be from sin or natural causes - Michal, Zacharias & Elizabeth
• Expect personal jealousy & anger - Sarah, Rachel & Leah.
• Expect ridicule by others - Hanna.
• Endure sorrow as others have - Rachel & Hanna.
• Both husband & wife petition God for children - Issac & Hanna.
• Dedicate future children to the Lord - Hanna.
• A specific promice may be revealed - Abraham, Jacob, Hanna & Zacharias.
• Have faith in an impossible situation - Abraham, Sarah, Hanna & Zacharias.
• Waiting may be required - Issac & Rebekah.

• Israel adopts Ephraim and Manasseh - Gen 48:1-22.
• Pharaoh's daughter adopts Moses - Ex 2:1-10, Acts 7:21.
• Samuel is raised by Eli - 1 Sam 1:21-2:11.
• Mordecai adopts Ester - Esth 2:5-7.
• Jesus is raised by Joseph - Lk 2:1-52.
• Christians are adopted as sons by God - Rom 8:15, 23, Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5.

• Adoption preserves the fatherless - Moses, Ester & the Christian.
• Adoption brings benefits to the parent - Isreal, Eli, Mordecai & Joseph.
• God is the father to the fatherless - Psalm 146:9.
• Orphans (along with widows and aliens) are to be supported - Deut 14:29, etc.