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Jacob’s wife Rachel found that she could not have children, but did not pray to God about it but said to Jacob: “Give me children, or else I die” (Genesis 30:1). This made Jacob angry with Rachel and he said: “ Am I in God’s stead, who has withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?” (Genesis 30:2). However, Rachel subsequently had two children - Joseph and Benjamin. She had wanted children (plural) and she had two. She said she would die if she did not have them, but she died because she did, for she died in childbirth with Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-20). If we insist, God may give us what we want, but it may not work out the best for us in the end. I have known at least one such case.

In addition to her own children which she bore, we know that she had two children by Bilhah her maid which became hers. Effectively she adopted them (Genesis 30:3-8).

In 1 Samuel we find that Hannah had a similar problem to Rachel, but she entreated God about the matter and bore Samuel who she lent to the Lord all his days (1 Samuel 1:11 and 2:20). Further, God blessed her and gave her additionally three sons and two daughters - 6 children in all (1 Samuel 2:21). How many children Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife had we are not told. There is also a lesson in all this, inasmuch as there was friction between Leah and Rachel as well as Hannah and Peninnah. It indicates the problems that can arise when multiple wives are considered acceptable. The answer to Hannah’s prayer resulted in praise to God (1 Samuel 2:1-10).

What we learn from the above is that if one has no children and feels the lack of it one should turn to God about the matter and not resort to human solutions. God may then indicate a solution according to his mind. Abraham and Sarah resorted to a human expedient to obtain a child. The result was Ishmael, which generated problems (Genesis 16:11/12)

Someone may say, but has not God adopted us as his sons ? The answer to that is yes. In Galatians 4:5 and Ephesians 1:5 we have it said that we have been adopted, or as it may be translated ‘receive sonship’, that is, as a gift. The meaning is effectively the same. Because of this it would be wrong to condemn adoption altogether. It would really make God do wrong, an idea that cannot be entertained. Christ