Infertility in the Bible: Rachel, the Barren Sister

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“Give me children, or else I die.”

This dramatic and heart-wrenching plea reveals the deep pain Rachel experienced as she watched her sister bear children while she remained barren. It’s a cry that exposes the rawness of her heart and the difficulty she had in trusting God's timing.

Today, we will explore how Rachel responded to her challenges—not to judge her or condemn ourselves, but to meditate on how we can approach our own struggles with humility, trust, and a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty. 

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Infertility in the Bible: Rachel, the Barren Sister

Last month, we talked about  Isaac and Rebecca and how they finally gave birth to Jacob and Esau after decades of infertility. If we continue their story, we see that their son Jacob eventually married Rachel and Leah, two sisters who were also distant relatives of his mother.

It’s worth noting that Jacob only intended to marry Rachel, but through deception by the girl's father, Laban, Jacob ended up marrying both sisters. What followed was a season of tension and heartbreak, as Leah was fruitful while Rachel struggled with infertility.

Today, we will take a deep dive into how Rachel responded to her circumstances and we will also see how God may have been using her infertility to teach both she and her husband about His sovereignty.

As we follow Rachel’s journey, it’s important to remember that Rachel was human, just like us. While her words and actions at times offer us opportunities for reflection, she also found herself in situations she never asked for.

Let’s approach her story with a humble and introspective heart, seeking to uncover the lessons it holds for our own lives.

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Let’s see what we can learn from the circumstances surrounding Rachel and how she responded to infertility:

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1. In Our Lowest Moments, God Sees and Lifts Us Up:

Before we really zero in on Rachel, lets look at the background of Leah as it gives us good insight into the heart of God, and a theme that we will revisit at the end of Rachel's story.

The story begins by painting Rachel as the favored one, the woman admired by the world, while Leah is overlooked and dismissed. The narrative seems to invite comparison from the very start:

“And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.” (Genesis 29:16-17).

Rachel’s beauty and favor stood in stark contrast to Leah’s affliction, setting the stage for a story that highlights God’s compassion and His tendency to uplift the lowly.

Leah’s circumstances are pivotal to understanding why God chose to open her womb:

“And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now, therefore, my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:31-32).

‍ Leah, despised and neglected, was seen by God in her sorrow. He had compassion on her, blessing her with children as a way to lift her from her low position.

This theme of God exalting the humble runs throughout Scripture especially when it comes to Children being given to people who were part of God's plans of redemption. Leah’s story is echoed in the lives of other women, such as Hannah, who cried out to God in her anguish and was blessed with Samuel, the prophet of God. Similarly, Mary, a lowly and humble handmaiden, was chosen to bear Jesus Christ. Again and again, we see God’s heart for the afflicted, the meek, and those who surrender to Him in their brokenness.

Perhaps Leah’s affliction nurtured a quiet spirit, one that God found precious and rewarded (1 Peter 3:4). Or perhaps God simply saw the absence of love in her life and desired to fill that void through her children. Regardless, Leah’s story reminds us that God doesn’t operate by the world’s standards of beauty or favor. Instead, He looks at the heart, responding with grace and compassion to those who humble themselves before Him.

The contrast between Leah’s low position and Rachel’s elevated one invites us to reflect on how God values humility. Leah’s affliction, though painful, positioned her to receive God’s blessings. Meanwhile, Rachel, though favored, had to come to a place of surrender before she, too, was blessed with children.

This recurring theme teaches us that God considers our circumstances, our hearts, and our humility when granting blessings like children. Whether through affliction or a conscious effort to cultivate humility, a heart that is surrendered to God invites His grace. As we continue to explore Rachel’s story, we will see this truth unfold even further.

Takeaway: Leah’s story shows us that God is deeply compassionate toward the overlooked and afflicted. While the narrative doesn’t explicitly mention Leah praying, her lowly circumstances reveal a humility that God honored by blessing her with children. This theme of God exalting the humble is consistent throughout Scripture, as seen in the lives of Hannah and Mary, who approached God with surrender and trust. Whether through quiet endurance or heartfelt prayer, the common thread is a heart postured in humility, inviting God’s grace and timing into our lives.

A reminder to approach our infertility journey with humility and grace toward our circumstances.

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2. Guard Your Heart Against Envy During Your Infertility Journey:

God continued to bless Leah with Children. She went on to have six boys and one girl, and her ability to be so fruitful made Rachel deeply envious.

I imagine that Leah’s fruitfulness may have brought her a level of recognition and esteem that she had never known before. Though she still wasn’t Jacob’s favorite, the blessing of children may have elevated her status in the eyes of others, even if only temporarily.

Meanwhile, Rachel, the beautiful and favored wife, found herself living in Leah’s shadow in this regard. Her inability to conceive may have been a source of judgment from others, as infertility often carried a stigma at that time. 

Speculation aside, one thing is sure, the weight of her barrenness and Leah’s growing family caused Rachel’s emotions to overflow.

Her pain became anger, her anger turned to envy, and ultimately, she lashed out at Jacob, threatening him with drastic words:

“And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die (Genesis 30:1).

Rachel’s desperation is palpable. In her pain, she blamed her husband for her inability to conceive and even voiced a desire to end her life. While it’s easy to question the harshness of her words, her anguish reminds us of how trials can push even the strongest among us to moments of weakness.

Have you allowed infertility to cause you to cultivate resentment? Or further, to act on this emotion?

It is important to recognize that God is compassionate toward our humanity, but that does not give us a license to let our circumstances control our words and actions. As believers, we are called to speak life, not death, no matter how heavy our trials may feel.

Takeaway: Rachel’s story serves as a poignant reminder of how easy it is to let our emotions take over during times of longing, but it also emphasizes the importance of humility in our responses. When we give in to anger and envy, we miss the opportunity to bring our hearts before God with the posture He desires. Humility, rather than bitterness, helps us trust God's plan and timing.

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3. Recognize God’s Sovereignty Over the Womb:

The mere fact that Rachel went to Jacob to ask for her womb to be opened, gives us the impression that she didn't acknowledge that God is the one who unlocks the womb. Her husband tried to relay this reality to her, but I don’t think she fully understood it at the time.

We see this in Jacob’s response to her:

“And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb” (Genesis 30:2).

This is a very important aspect of Rachel’s Journey and a theme that we see temporarily amongst some of the other women in the Bible who suffered infertility. 

This moment is crucial in Rachel's journey, and it echoes a common theme seen in the stories of other women in the Bible who struggled with infertility. Had Rachel recognized God’s sovereignty and surrendered to His timing, perhaps she would have wrestled less with envy, frustration, and desperation. After all, God had great plans for her, as she would eventually bear a son who would save many during a time of famine. However, her inability to trust in God’s plan led her to react impulsively out of emotion, something we’ll see unfold further in her story.

Takeaway: It’s vital to recognize and surrender to God’s sovereignty over the womb. Failing to do so can lead to a more difficult journey. Perhaps even a more prolonged waiting season, as God may use that time to help us shift our perspective and align with His divine timing, especially when we are His children, held to a higher standard.

Take-away: 

We need to make sure we are recognizing God’s sovereignty over the womb. Failure to recognize his hand could provoke Him to prolong your infertility in an attempt to help you cultivate a new perspective about his divine intervention, especially if you are a child of God whom he holds to a higher standard.

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4. Pursue Motherhood for the Right Reasons:

After Jacob’s rebuke, we don’t know if Rachel sought God’s guidance, but what we do see is her decision that may have stemmed from her trying to take matters into her own hands. As we see she gives her handmaid, Bilhah, to Jacob to sleep with in an effort to have children through her.

Bilhah bore two sons "for" Rachel, and in a spirit of competition, Rachel responds:

“With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed” (Genesis 30:8).

‍Rachel’s words reveal her desire to “win” in a contest she never asked to be in, caused by her father’s deceit. While it’s understandable to feel this way, her actions show that she may have lost sight of the true purpose of motherhood: to honor God not one up her sister.

Soon after, Leah bears two more children, which must have been difficult for Rachel to witness, especially after thinking she had “leveled the playing field.”

This part of the story prompts us to reflect on how, at times, we may pursue motherhood for the wrong reasons—motivated by comparison, competition, or external pressure.

In today’s world, this pressure can come from social media, where pregnancy and motherhood are often showcased as performances for approval or validation, or from family members who push for children on their terms, comparing your journey to others.

The desire for children should not come from envy or competition with others, but from a humble, God-centered longing to raise children with love and purpose.

Takeaway: Be mindful of the true intentions behind wanting to be a mother. While societal expectations and trends can create pressure, our desire for children should be rooted in God’s will, not in seeking worldly praise or fulfilling an unspoken competition.

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5. Don’t Let the Pursuit of a Child Breed Idolatry

Lastly, of the most interesting aspects about Rachel and Leah is that they may have grown up around idolatry.

We see that their father practiced witchcraft and divination and owned several valuable idols of other gods. Some speculate that Leah and Rachel were both into some aspects of divination as well, which is why some claim that Rachel desperately wanted some of Leah’s mandrakes. According to extrabiblical lore, mandrake is a root that was used in various spiritual rituals to support fertility but this is just speculation.

In scripture, we also read that when Jacob packed his family up to start his own settlement, Rachel stole her father's idols and took them with her (Genesis 31:19).

Her father found out and eventually pursued Jacob and accused him of stealing the idols.

Jacob was very confident that neither he, his wives nor his children stole the idols of another god. He even told his father-in-law that if he found the idols, he could kill the person who stole them.  

When Rachel heard this, she hid the idols in furniture loaded on her camel and sat on top of them. When her father Laban asked to check the camel's carriage for the idols, she lied and said she couldn’t move since she had the issue of blood (menstruation).

However, as far as we know, the idols were never uncovered. It seems God remained the only one privy to knowing her hidden secret.

In reflecting on this, I started to wonder: Could Rachel’s attachment to these idols have played a role in her struggle with infertility? Did she seek after them in any way when waiting for a child?

While we can't know for sure, the fact that this incident is included in the Bible makes me think there’s something important here. We see in ths book that God did not allow Rachel to be caught, but He did make sure we, as readers, would know what she was hiding. This thought led me to consider how idolatry might impact not only Rachel’s life but also our own journeys.

It can be easy to have hidden misplaced trust when battling infertility  We see this with the pursuit of certain treatments in some cases. I am not here to judge the pursuit of treatments, after all I work on the natural side of fertility treatment, which some might see as a treatment in and of itself, but sometimes people have more faith in treatment than in the healing Hand of the God of the universe and that is where the idolatry steps in. Only God can see this. It's a hidden thing that only he can often weigh. 

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Can Idolatry Cause God to Close Your Womb or Delay the Blessing of a Child?

I want to be clear that I have no clue if Idolatry is the reason why Rachel's journey went the way it was, nor am I accusing you the reader that idolatry is the reason for your journey. This is purely speculative and just a thought that crossed my mind, but it made me ask myself:

Could idolatry have a role in hindering blessings in our lives, including children? Whether it’s placing trust in something other than God or holding onto things that compete with our full devotion to Him, idolatry can subtly weave its way into our hearts without us realizing it.

I’ll share a personal experience as an example. Years ago, I was deeply involved in yoga and other eastern spiritual practices. I was unaware that some of the yoga poses and sequences were originally designed to honor Hindu gods. Over time, I found myself becoming more immersed in the practice, and my life was a struggle during that season. Luckily God allowed me to have a spiritual encounter that revealed to me that yoga was idolatry. I let go of the practice of yoga, amongst other things, and my life completely changed. I became closer to God and was able to see his blessings in several areas of my life.

I say this to caution you, be careful of idolatry. The journey to motherhood—or any other deep longing we might experience—should be approached with humility and trust in God's timing. We should never allow the things we desire to become more important than trusting God’s plan. Nor should we put our hope in things outside of God or pay any sort of reverence to false gods.  It’s important to ask God to reveal any hidden idols in our lives because He sees what others cannot.

Let’s remember to humble ourselves before God, place our full trust in Him, and avoid giving reason for Him to withhold His blessings due to misplaced priorities. We are called to follow Him, to seek His will, and to rely on His strength—not on the things of this world.

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Humility is key: Rachel's Moment of surrender and finally becoming Pregnant:

I went slightly out of order here because I wanted to emphasize how important it is to trust God and only God, but returning to Rachel's story, we see that just before Jacob moved his family away, God heard Rachel's prayers and opened her womb, allowing her to give birth to a son named Joseph. The Bible says:

"And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son." (Genesis 30:22–24)

The word "hearkened" here means "heard." This implies that Rachel had cried out to God for a child. The apocryphal book of Jasher expands on this, describing Rachel's deep sense of shame at not conceiving, especially after even her handmaids bore children. It recounts that she fervently prayed to God, asking for her reproach to be removed:

"And Rachel was still barren in those days, and Rachel prayed unto the Lord at that time, and she said, O Lord God, remember me and visit me, I beseech thee, for now my husband will cast me off, for I have borne him no children. Now O Lord God, hear my supplication before thee, and see my affliction, and give me children like one of the handmaids, that I may no more bear my reproach. And God heard her and opened her womb, and Rachel conceived and bare a son, and she said, The Lord has taken away my reproach, and she called his name Joseph, saying, May the Lord add to me another son; and Jacob was ninety-one years old when she bare him." (Jasher 31:19–21)

Although books like Jasher are debated, I found this passage insightful in portraying Rachel's heartfelt plea.

However, Even without this account, the book of Genesis makes it clear that God "heard" Rachel’s prayer and “remembered” her, much like He did for Hannah, another barren woman in the Bible who cried out to God while her husband’s second wife bore children. In both stories, it was at the point of surrender that God answered their prayers.

Rachel named her firstborn Joseph, meaning "God will add," reflecting her faith in God's giving her not just one child but also that she had faith God would give her another. God honored her faith by giving her that second child, his name was Benjamin, Jacob's last child. Rachel went from saying to her husband " give me children less I die" to saying "God will add". It shows her transformation.

We know that the story goes, her first born son Joseph, despite enduring much strife, rose to become a ruler in Egypt, saving countless lives during a famine.

God was not blind to Rachel's pain or her difficult position, just as He was not blind to Leah's situation. He also saw the trickery Laban had used against Jacob, as He reminded Jacob:

"For I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred." (Genesis 31:12–13)

I believe God used Rachel’s infertility to refine her character and teach her about His sovereignty, preparing her for a greater role in His plan. While we may never fully understand God’s reasons for allowing certain circumstances, we can trust that He always has beautiful purposes for His children. This is why we should humble ourselves and place our trust in Him.

Takeaway: God hears the cries of humility. When we surrender to our circumstances and cry out to Him with a heart of faith and dependence, He lifts us up in His perfect timing. Bring your desires, like Rachel did with her womb, before Him in prayer. Humble yourself, acknowledging His sovereignty, and trust that He will act according to His beautiful plan.

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So Dear sister,

In reflecting on Rachel’s journey, we see a powerful story of longing, struggle, and eventual surrender. From her initial sense of entitlement to a child, driven by comparison and external pressures, to her eventual cry out to God in humility, Rachel’s story invites us to examine our own desires and motivations.

Her journey is one of learning to acknowledge God's sovereignty over her womb, to release the hold of idolatry, and to trust in His timing rather than her own plans. It teaches us that God sees our afflictions, our low moments, and our deepest desires, and He responds with compassion and grace when we humbly surrender to His will.

Whether it’s the pain of waiting, the temptation to compete, or the subtle ways idolatry creeps into our hearts, Rachel’s story reminds us to approach our desires with humility, recognizing that motherhood is a sacred gift meant to glorify God, not to fulfill personal pride or societal expectations. Just as God blessed Rachel in her lowest point, He is faithful to respond to our prayers when we come to Him with trust, faith, and surrender.

May we learn from Rachel’s story, turning to God in our own times of waiting, and may we continually surrender our deepest desires to Him, knowing that His plans for us are always filled with love and purpose.

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In love,

Ciara

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