So, What's Wrong with a C-Section?

As many of you may know, I’m passionate about having babies, raising babies and children as close as possible to how God intend it to do be.

Some time ago I wrote two postings on birth, additionally to my children’s birth stories -  ‘Are we still Designed to give Natural Birth?’ and ‘From a Perfect Normal Birth to a Caesarian in a Few Simple Steps.’

Since then I had much opposition and misunderstanding from friends, family and acquaintances on being very outspoken and adamant about natural births, in a normal, not-life-threatening-pregnancy, I longed to write an extra posting following my posting on Birth issues on “So, what is wrong with a C-section.” But time for proper research and writing was inadequate.

Since then my husband, Christo, who blogs at Natural Medicine Talk, started a Facebook page, Natural Health Discussion and following a series of discussions on the risks mothers run in trusting the medical profession blindly, he is busy writing a series on “How to have a healthy and natural pregnancy in spite of your gynecologist.”

Part 1, What is a Natural Pregnancy?

Part 2, What is an Unnatural Pregnancy?

And now Part 3 has been published: So what is wrong with a C-Section? 

As I was talking to a few ladies this morning, we have a healthy, young, mutual friend who is due to give birth any day now, I realized again how uninformed young women are of the risks and dangers of a C-section. All they hear is the benefits of a C-section. How much easier and convenient it is during a time when, as they observed, the mother is hormonally, emotionally and physically exhausted and just can’t be pregnant one day longer than necessary! 

They were shocked when I explained to them just some common risks like:

• The painful weeks after the birth, due to a major surgical procedure. So painful, you need schedule 6 & 7 drugs to cope with the pain, while trying to take care of a newborn baby;
• The Possible organ failure in baby due to the schedule 6 & 7 drugs, the mother receive afterwards for her major surgical procedure and which enter the baby through nursing. Would you like to give your newborn baby a scheduled 6 & 7 drug?

Did you now:

• Breastfeeding is prone to fail due to the sedative drugs, given to the mother while performing the C-section, and the separation of baby and mother, while they are taking care of the mother after baby has been taken out;
• Your baby has an increased risk of constipation and colic, due to the lack of friendly bacteria ingested by baby while being born through the birth canal. Trust me, it isn’t fun to see a constipated baby.

And then there is increased risk of postpartum bleeding and depression and the possible decrease in brain development of baby’s born pre-term...

But read more for yourself, here…


Please Note:  The aim of this posting is to inform young, first time mothers who only hear the positive side of a C-section. Not at all to condemn or judge women who had a lifesaving, absolute emergency C-section.

With much love

Linnie

Satan’s Biggest Threat!

People still don’t understand why we choose, to gave our family planning over to God!  

I thought by now, pregnant with #9 it wouldn’t be an issue or a puzzle anymore, but quite the contrary.  From different sides I’m hearing the objections and ridicule of people, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

As I was sitting next to my 2 and 4year old, to put them to sleep for their afternoon nap. I looked at their sweet faces, and the question came to mind: Why would anyone not want such a sweet little one?  All mothers love and adore their children, they cannot imagine a life without their precious children, yet they don’t want more.

And that is fine with me! Living in the 21st Century, every woman have rights and she can choose and control her own walk of life. But that is not where it ends! People seem to find it impossible to stop criticizing families who choose to have more than the average amount of children!   

God implanted motherhood into each woman and we just cannot ignore it!  Wanting to nurture something, a baby or even a pet if it can’t be a baby, is natural to every single woman on the face of the earth. 

A few days ago while I visited with friends in a coffee shop, the sound of an almost newborn baby’s cry made everyone stop midway in their conversations to see where the precious little voice was coming from! As all eyes laid hold of the tiny baby in her mother’s arms, every single woman’s face glowed with a softness, in adoration for the mother and her baby!

The same day, a few hours later, I was in a queue at a local store with my five well behaved little ones (7years and under).  Everyone was intrigued by their behavior, until one lady couldn’t resist the question any longer and asked me if all five were my children.  On my ‘Yes’, everyone was listening. Even more, when she asked if I was ‘finished’ now. When I mentioned my 10 week pregnancy, the whole atmosphere changed before my eyes!  It was almost like a demonic manifestation and I was the centre of attack!  One after the other derogatory comment was thrown in my direction and the eyes which was filled with approval only seconds ago, glared down on me with disapproval and disgust! 

What made this happen?  

Why on earth, would people react in anger and antagonism towards a total stranger in the local store, who mentioned she is expecting her 9th baby?  Would they react with such criticism if I had my shopping chart filled with ten to twenty pounds of butter, asking me if I knew how dangerous it was for my health?  Would they also have given me disapproving glances if I wore a low cut t-shirt and high-cut shorts, asking me if I didn’t have something ‘more appropriate’ to wear?  Chances are that they wouldn’t even have noticed me and do not care about my cholesterol or my moral standard of fashion.

Why then do people react totally bizarre when they learn that a woman, whom they don’t know from a bar of soap, is pregnant with her 9th baby?  Why would anyone care how many children I want?  Why am I such an irritation to people (even more to Christians!), when I gratefully except another blessing from God?

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  (Eph 6:12)

God is the God of the kingdom of life! Satan is ruler of the kingdom of death and destruction! These two powers are constantly in opposition with each other, since the fall of humanity! 

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”  Gen 3:15

I have just realized again, I’m opposing the biggest lie of Satan.  It is against natural design to NOT allow God to determine your family size.  It is when you choose against the biological function of the womanhood God put into each woman, that you are acting opposite to the natural.  During the past 50 years Satan subtly (but effectively) imprinted the lie of family planning deep into humanity. Even the church fell for it. It is laughable to see and hear the shallow opposing arguments, criticism and open attack of Christians against fellow families in Christ, who allow God to determine their family size! 

Satan knows that the Godly seed brought forth by women, is his biggest threat in destroying his dark works of deception and destruction.  We read that Satan has already tried twice during Bible times to kill babies. In Egypt during Moses’ time, Satan killed babies using the Pharaoh, trying to avoid the birth of a Leader that would lead God’s nation to the promised land and again through Herod, Satan killed 1000s’ of babies trying to kill baby Jesus.

We all know we are living in the final hour, before the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, more than ever Satan is killing millions of babies, which should be the part of the End-Time-Army of God!  The sad part is that not only non-Christians, but Christians also, has bought into Satan’s lies to destroy the children again, this time though ‘family planning.’ 

Why would people react bizarre towards another pregnancy?

Because the family who allows God to determine their family size, is Satan’s biggest threat!

“To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”  II Cor 2:16

You decide.

Speaking the truth in love

Linnie

Does the Bible Really Say: “Have as Many Children as Possible”?

A few months ago a lady commented that she “don't actually agree with the never ending family/leaving it in God's hands practice.” Her word choice “never ending family” was very interesting to me. I haven’t thought of my family as a “never ending family.” We got involved in a debate and even more interesting words popped up: ‘have as many babies as we liked.’

It was an interesting concept to me, since I wasn’t having 8 children, pregnant with baby #9, because of my desire to ‘have as many babies as I like.’

She also clearly stated that: “if God very clearly puts in your heart to have 20 kids, then that's between you and God - we are not all called to the same purpose!” I must say, it isn’t the first time I heard: “We’re not all called to the same purpose.”

Called to what purpose? The purpose of having 20 children?  The purpose of having all the children God wants to give us or the purpose of having children at all?

Coming back to the 20 children. Never before has anyone compared me with Michelle Dugger. What a compliment for me as woman! There is only one very blessed, Michelle Dugger, through whom the Lord distributes His truth about the blessing of children into the world. But that is not the purpose of this posting.

Being pregnant with Baby #9 I received quite a few comments along the line of: “So how many children do you want?” or “Are you trying for 10?”

Am I giving the impression of having a certain pre-decided amount of children? Am I trying to have as many children as possible? This thought has never before entered my mind!

After I fell pregnant with Danika and experienced all the miraculous interventions of God in our lives as a family, on the financial side, in the birth of Danika and in my personal growth as a woman, wife and mother, we come to know that children are a Blessing.

A blessing to whom many have said to God: “Thank You, they are a blessing, but no thank you, this is enough, no more blessings, please!”

We searched the scriptures and a year later we surrendered my womb to the Lord. Only that. We surrendered my womb, so God could, through my husband and I, send little people into the World. 

We would use all our time, resources and energy to raise them in His ways, so they can change the World for His glory!

And while I was still trying to order my thoughts and put it on paper I read this posting by Andrea Parunak, originally published on her blog, Pursuing Titus 2 In this posting, Andrea pinpointed Christo and my exact intentions of surrendering my womb and I’m reprinting it on my blog with her permission.

Blessings, But…

Since the original posting of this piece, multiple people have misunderstood my position. This led me to add the some clarifications to the comment thread. I thought it might prevent further confusion to include them here as well. The original post follows these points.

1. The purpose of my post was to address our attitude toward children, NOT to advocate “producing as many children as humanly possible,” or “maximizing your output of babies.” The point of this post is that children are a blessing. That is all. And that is why I chose those verses (Psalm 127:3-5, Psalm 128:3-4). I do not think that those Psalms command anything. They are statements of fact.

2. There is NO command in Scripture to have as many children as possible.

3. If it were the goal to have as many children as possible, then I would be writing blog posts about how we should all stop breastfeeding, or at the very least stop nursing at night so that we can get our fertility back sooner and produce more babies. And while we’re at it, maybe we should all be taking fertility drugs to ensure that we have twins or triplets every time. Notice, I do not advocate any of this.

4. A woman is not an inferior Christian if she doesn’t have as many children as someone else. She is not sinning if she doesn’t have as many children as someone else. She is not serving God less, or whatever else. I do not use the number of children anyone has as my “measuring stick of the godliness of other believers.” This is why I talk in my post about “Jane,” the godly woman, who for some reason does not appear to be blessed in the area in question.

5. If a woman and her husband aren’t able to have any kids at all, I have nothing even remotely negative to say about them. That would be why I said in my post, “not all of us are actually capable of giving birth to ten children, or five, or any.”

6. BUT, WHY does “normal” in the area of childbearing mean, “go on birth control, and then ask God IF you should have kids”?

7. Having babies is the biological default. It is the normal function of our bodies. NOT having babies is proactive. Using birth control is intentionally doing something to stop your body from behaving the way God made it to. That makes avoiding children the extraordinary act, NOT having them.

8. If younger women are supposed to marry and bear children, then why do we today take as our baseline the prevention of children?

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. –1 Timothy 5:14

9. I am not advocating Quiver-stuffed parenting, but I am wondering why most of Christendom feels that Quiver-empty is the right thing until “we’re ready,” or until “we feel called,” etc.

***

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. –Psalm 127:3-5

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. –Psalm 128:3-4

Whenever I bring up birth control, I witness a strange phenomenon. I call it “Blessings, But.” This is how Christians attempt to reconcile what the Bible seems to say about children with something else, something their hearts are telling them, something born of suffering and struggle, something they’ve seen in others, or experienced themselves, something that tells them that children are one blessing they’d actually rather not have, or at least not in the abundance that the “Quiverfull” camp would celebrate. 

It goes like this, first you agree with the important sentiment that children are indeed blessings, and then you add your “but,” your reason for not wanting to be blessed at this time, or blessed very much, or for having anyone talk too much about the blessing. “Children are blessings, but they aren’t a requirement.” “Children are blessings, but we don’t want any more. We love the two we’ve got, of course, but we’re done.” “Children are blessings, but I think God wants us to use common sense.” “Children are blessings, but we need time to establish our marriage first.” “Children are blessings, but my friend, Jane, had an emergency hysterectomy and can’t have any more. Are you implying that she’s somehow less godly than women with ten children?”

Do you know what is implicit in all this? It’s the idea that children actually aren’t such blessings after all. If we really thought they were blessings, most of these “buts” would sound kind of hollow. To illustrate what I mean, imagine applying these same arguments to another blessing, good health.

“Good health is a blessing, but it isn’t a requirement.” Would any of us want to add under our breath, “And thank God it isn’t because I sure didn’t want to be too healthy!”? I’m guessing not. The fact is, most of us don’t really care whether we’re required to be healthy or not. We just know we hate being sick! Few of us would choose to have a cold or the flu, let alone cancer, or Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s disease. Never mind requirements. When it comes to being healthy, we’re quite happy to just go ahead and be blessed. It’s kind of like asking a kid whose parents took him out for ice cream if his dad was going to require him to eat his banana split. If the kid likes ice cream, then it’s totally irrelevant.

“Good health is a blessing, but I don’t want any more. I loved the health I had, of course, but I’m done.” This is like saying, “I was happy being healthy for a few years, but now I’m looking forward to hypertension and bad knees.” Nobody would say this. Those of us who like being healthy would like to continue to be healthy for a long, long time. We’ll take all the health we can get.

“Good health is a blessing, but I think God wants us to use common sense.” You know, because going to the gym is just too expensive; and cooking fresh vegetables is too time consuming; and some families run themselves into the ground financially trying to pay for vitamins and check-ups; and I know people who are always exercising, and it takes up so much time. Being healthy is great and all, but there are a lot of other things that are way more important. 

This is really just saying that good health isn’t actually so important at all, or isn’t really worth sacrificing, or prioritizing, or getting creative about. If there are problems with exercising and eating well, rather than solving them because taking care of ourselves is crucial, we’d rather just use “common sense” and forget about it.

“Good health is a blessing, but we need time to establish our marriage first.” This implies that good health gets in the way of a healthy marriage, that health is somehow at odds with a marriage, or that it unduly stresses a marriage in some way. Again, nobody would say this. Nearly all of us think that the blessing of good health is a benefit to anything we want to do, including establishing a marriage.

“Good health is a blessing, but my friend, Jane, has chronic fatigue syndrome and never feels good. Are you implying that she’s somehow less godly than healthy people?” 

Whenever we talk about a blessing, we have to confront the cases of people who love the Lord, but who appear not to be “blessed” in this particular area. And when that area is physical, either good health or the ability to bear children, we always have to come up against the Curse. We live in fallen bodies. They break. They get diseased. They’re susceptible to mental and physical illness, hormonal imbalance, and injury. Not all of us are going to have radiant health, just like not all of us are actually capable of giving birth to ten children, or five, or any.

What’s telling, here, though, is our attitude toward the blessing itself. When this problem of unequal blessing is brought up about children, the implication is usually, “So, quit putting so much emphasis on them!” But how does this sound for health? Would anyone conclude that since godly women like Jane don’t have all the health that others have, that health really isn’t such a blessing after all, or that if God doesn’t give it in equal measure to everyone, then it isn’t something to be desired? In the case of health, when we see a godly woman who is chronically ill, most of us are impressed by her faith, her love for the Lord, her steadfast perseverance in the face of a hard circumstance. “Wow, it’s really hard to be joyful when you’re denied the blessing of good health. But look at Jane! She’s such an example to us.” Few would take her case as proof that health isn’t beneficial, and we certainly wouldn’t consider it license to eat all our meals at McDonald’s or never leave the La-Z-Boy.

So, what does the fact that we do make all these statements about children really mean? I think it means that we don’t really think children are blessings. Even parents who ferociously love the ones they have, still may not think that all children and any children, including those born third, or seventh, or tenth, would actually bless them.

Why is that? Is God wrong about children being a blessing? How come the Bible doesn’t have any “buts” about this? It’s not because the idea of preventing unwanted children was unheard of. The story of Onan way back in Genesis proves that. What about families that are strapped financially, or mothers who are worn out, or parents who can’t seem to control the monstrous blessings they’ve already got? What about people who just “don’t like kids,” or who want to do things with their lives that children get in the way of (like climbing Mt. Everest, or becoming a CEO, or even spiritual things like mission work)? Would another child really bless these people? Are all children blessings, or only some, the ones we “want,” the ones that are “planned,” the ones that have handsome trust funds established at birth to cover Ivy League tuition, the ones that don’t disrupt our sleep and our lives, make us morning sick, or get in the way of our careers? Does the blessing vanish if another child means we have to shop at the thrift store, grab “dates” at home on the couch, or give up our dream of touring with Yo-Yo Ma? 

Are we only blessed if we are spared hard work and sacrifice? We can’t have it both ways. Either children are blessings or they aren’t. There are no such things as “Blessings, But...”

Emphasis added

With Love

Linnie

A Great Work!

Sometime ago I stumbled upon a link to an article on Christian Birth Control Options. The article was written by a Pastor and he summarized the various options that a Christian couple has to consider regarding birth control, distinguishing between no birth control, contraception, and abortion. With five levels of birth control in between, ranging from no birth control to abortion.  

Without going into the detail of his five levels of birth control, I was shocked about the pastor's way of justifying the different kinds of birth control (not from the Bible) and his clear antagonism to people who choose No Birth Control as their “family planning” and how these people are legalistic!  

The most shocking however, was his advice on the use of the birth control pill - level 4 - Potentially Abortive Birth Control. 

He pointed out that one of the three ways the pill prevent contraception is by thinning and shriveling the lining of the uterus so that it is unable or less able to facilitate the implantation of the newly fertilized egg, thus making it a “potential” abortive birth control. But that being said, he didn’t take a stand against the pill. No, he advised Christian marriage couples to “prayerfully” consider the use of the pill and take an informed decision according to their own conscience and the leading of God the Holy Spirit. By implication, Christian marriage couples may use the birth control pill (that causes abortion) if they felt lead to do so by the Holy Spirit! 


His next level of birth control is level 5 - Abortive Murder.  I quote: "the taking of a human life through the killing of a fertilized egg.  Biblically, it is also known as the sin of murder."

Something is wrong with this picture!  In just the above paragraph he pointed out the birth control pill is potentially abortive, I quote: “it seeks to disrupt the ongoing life of a fertilized egg” but he only advice Christian marriage couples to “prayerfully consider” the use of it, God the Holy Spirit might even allow them to use it...while in the next paragraph he calls killing of a fertilized egg, murder!

I couldn’t help but remember 2 Tim 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” 

I realized how the church bought into the practices of the world, compromising Biblical truths, afraid to offend their followers. The moment we take a stand for Biblical truth we are accused of having no grace and love!  I once read:  The truth will always offend, but is never offensive!  Jesus’ truths offended many! The Biblical truth does offend (the sin in) people!

I got involved in a debate on the blog where I found the link, pointing out Biblical evidence against the use of different birth control methods for Christians and got only opposing replies. While being in the debate, I (again) reevaluated what I believe, why I believe it and my motivations behind my arguments. I also discussed them with Christo, since I never write /comment on a topic concerning Bible truths without his input/approval.

While being in my self evaluation, Christo shared with me one of Dr. John C. Maxwell’s teachings he receives monthly,  on leadership.  This teaching was on “A Great Work”.  There couldn’t have been better timing for me to listen to this  CD. 

What is a Great Work? 

When Mother Theresa wanted to start orphanages in India years ago, her superiors asked her how she would know the work she would do in India is a great work? She answered: “When I can give food, clothes and hold ONE child, it is a great work!” 

A Great work isn’t changing or saving the world, it is making a difference! Even if it is only one by one.

A great work will always have a pull on you and the scars received while doing your great work will never leave you feeling inferior, because it is scars attained in the battle.

Urging women and parents to return to Biblical principles and opposing lies, believed by women and parents, is my great work.  It has a pull on me that I can’t explain to anyone. I know I’m opening myself for scars, but I’m willing to take the chance - the chance to make a difference in one woman’s life, while in the battle!

I believe by opposing the lies on birth control, I can make a difference.  I believe God called Christians to “Be Fruitful and Multiply in their marriage and raise Godly offspring for His glory”, leaving everything up to God and God alone, leaning not on their own understanding, but trusting God!

I want to make a difference for one child! One child who will enter the world, that would most probably not have done so as a result of the lies of Satan to limit family size and ultimately God’s End Time Army! I want one child to give God glory, living out the purpose God had for that child since the foundation of the earth - bringing people to know God, defeating the dark works of Satan, through his/her life!

I do know God’s walk  with every person is at a different level of faith and understanding, but I cannot and will not be silent.  This might just be God’s timing for that person to remove his/her blindness and see the truth!

And this is the motivation behind my blog and everything I am. I will not compromise, I will speak the truth, living a great life, doing a great work, called and enabled by God and God alone!

With sincere love

Linnie

Where Do Babies REALLY Come From?

Are children only a result of marriage or are there Someone who open and close the womb?

The past year I have had some interesting conversations with people who knows us well enough to know that we have 8 children. We are looking forward to have even more children since we want all the children the Lord wants to bless us with.  In general conversations about our babies, I would comment that I have come to love babies soooo much and don’t know what I will do when the Lord decides my time for having babies is over.  The other person, would then usually tell me that they will not have anymore babies.  I would often hear that she and her husband had prayed about it and now have peace that the Lord approved that she won’t have anymore babies, most of the time because  of some medical condition or financial or other circumstances.  She would either have had a tubal ligation or he had a vasectomy or they will practice some kind of contraception.

This is a very interesting concept to me. 

Most of the time the people I come into contact with are committed Christians.  People who earnestly seek the Lord’s will for their lives.  People who want to please the Lord and confess that they trust the Lord and know the Lord and has a personal relationship with Him..  How come the area of babies/children don’t fit into their picture of surrendering their lives to the Lord?  What is the motivation behind real committed Christians’ reasoning to believe stopping their own fertility or taking their fertility into their own hands fit into the Lord’s will for their lives?

Another interesting point is:  If it is God’s will for them to not have children anymore, why do they need the tubal ligation, vasectomy or whatever contraception?  If it is  His will, then surely He will not allow pregnancy and they would be ‘safe’ from having more children. Does He really need their intervention? 

What lie makes them believe their God isn’t bigger than their medical condition or financial circumstances?

Is it possible that we are hesitant to trust the Lord with our fertility, since we have a wrong believe system about: Where does babies REALLY come from? The wrong believe that babies is only a result of a s*xual act and that God has actually nothing to do with falling pregnant.  Do they believe that choosing to have no more children and being conformed to the world in this area of their lives, actually doesn’t matter to God so much, since He is not involved?  

Baby CJ

In the Full Quiver, Rick and Jan Hess addresses this issue in answering the question, Where Do Babies Come From?  

(Please note:  The accent of this excerpt  is not on infertility and therefore why do some couples experience infertility, but on contraception and the roll of a couple in contraception.)

There are two ways to answer the question - Where Do Babies Come From?  A proponent of what we will call “philosophy A” would say that babies are simply a product of a random meeting of sperm and egg.  Those who hold to this also teach that parents are the only thinking, responsible agent behind the conception process.  If this is true, it follows that we are the only ones who can and therefore should or must exercise control in conception.   

Therefore we have the right to decide we will stop this process of getting pregnant.

Now it’s time to meet “philosophy B”.  This concept is different.  Really different. So different, in fact, that those in the philosophy A camp cannot fathom why philosophy B people believe what they do - except for one thing - they know it has something to do with the Bible and God.

But what is in the Bible that runs contrary to the random probability theory held so much of our society?  Maybe you yourself believe that your own existence began solely at a change uniting of a couple of cells.  Then please read on... Let look at some important Biblical passages that talks about conception:

Old Testament Examples:

Eve:

We begin our study of beginnings near the beginning of the book of beginnings - Genesis, chapter four. Verse one provides the perfect starting point, as it records the first birth of a human being.  Lets see how new mom Eve answers the question, “Where do babies come from?”  When Cain is born she testifies, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.”

Baby Heidi-Mari

Eve, who had enjoyed a first-person relationship with God, speaks not as a lettered theologian but as a practicing mother.  She fully realizes that God has been necessary for the birth of her son and that Cain’s arrival did not happen without His intervention.

Hagar:

In Genesis 16 we find the angel of the Lord counseling Hagar, Abraham’s exiled servant-wife.  In verse 10 it reads:  “more-over, the angel of the Lord said to her, ‘I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they shall be too many to count.’ ”

The angel of the Lord, speaking for God, said a very interesting thing.  What he did NOT say is even more interesting.  He did not tell Hagar, “You will have so many descendants that they shall be too many to count.” He specifically said, “I will greatly multiply your descendants.”  God Himself was going to personally multiply these people.

Abraham:

In Genesis 17:20 God promises Abraham, “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.”

The wording is again significant.  God did NOT say, “You will multiply exceedingly’ but assumed total responsibility for creating Abraham’s descendants - “I will multiply you exceedingly.”

The next passage is in my opinion profound, since it address ‘the womb’, itself.

Abimelech:

Next stop is also in Genesis: chapter 20. We know well the story of an embarrassed Abraham having to tell king Abimelech that his step-sister was also his wife.  But have you ever dwelt on verse 17 and 18? They read, “And Abraham prayed to God; and God HEALED Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.  For the Lord had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”

Here is a direct statement of God’s control in matters of conception.  The household of Abimelech was suddenly barren - we do know who was the cause and cure of it.

The following passages also dealt with conception:

Rachel and Leah:

Genesis 29:31 through Genesis 30:24 is one of the most amazing Scripture passages concerning God’s causal relationship to conception.  Rather than quote the whole passage, let’s examine it, using the framework of a multi-year football game.  The two teams are known by their start players, Leah and Rachel. 

During the First Quarter the Lord opens Leah’s womb four times. 

After dominating the opening quarter, Leah has no more children, so Rachel takes over on offense in the second quarter.  We must point out a very innovative aspect of this game - both teams have the same quarterback - Jacob! Most unusual.  Well, Rachel’s demand in the huddle is, “Give me children, or else I die.”  Rachel really want to get in the game.  She also thinks that on this team the quarterback calls the plays, but Jacob knows full well it is the Coach who does and responds to her, “Am I in place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

Now we see an unprecedented move: the first substitution.  Rachel benches herself and sends in Bilhah.  Also Leah sees the fruitfulness of substitution and sends in Zilpah for herself.

In the Third Quarter Leah is back and has three more children.

In the the Fourth and final Quarter Rachel has a real ‘winner’ in Joseph.  The final score is Leah 7, Rachel 2 (the second being Benjamin).

Let’s watch an instant replay of God’s part in the story of Rachel and Leah.  Please study carefully the following references (All from the book of Genesis):

• “He opened her womb.” (29:31)
• He has therefore given me this son also.” (29:33)
• Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children form you?” (30:2)
• “God has vindicated me... and has given me a son.” (30:6)
• “And God gave heed to Leah and she conceived.” (30:17)
• “And God gave heed to her and opened her womb.” (30:22)

These inspired examples show, without a doubt, God’s total control over the events of contraception and birth.  He “opened’ and He “withheld.”  

Baby Josua

But maybe the above examples was only for ‘then’. So let’s look further.

Moses:

The final quote from the Pentateuch comes from the well known blessing/cursing chapter, Deuteronomy 28.  In this passage God tells Israel just how good things will be if they will be obedient and just how horrible life will become if they are not.  Speaking through Moses, in the eleventh verse God says, “And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body.”

The important word of this verse are “the Lord will”.  Is it God who gives offspring?

Ruth:

Let us now look at the beautiful book of Ruth.  Ruth 4:13 clearly states, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her.  And the Lord ENABLED her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

So Obed was born, not as a result of a chance fertilization at the proper time of some month, but because and only because God ‘enabled’ it.  By the way, do you think it is both biologically and theologically accurate for each of us to place our own name in the place of “Obed” in the above sentence?  But even more profound: This new son may have looked like any other little bundle of Jewish joy, but he was to be King David’s grandpa!  Who knows what great place in God’s plans a future little one, which He could give to you or us, might play?

Samuel:

The birth of Samuel is yet another illustration of the reality of who is the actual source of ALL people’s lives.  Our interest in the story begins at 1 Samuel 1:6, which says, “Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.”

God did not say that Hanna was barren because she had a tipped uterus, blocked Fallopian tubes, endometriosis or irregular periods. 

Although, trust me in this area, there would sure enough be a diagnoses for her barrenness. Because there is a diagnoses don’t exclude God from the picture!!

The Great Physician proclaims quite matter-of-factly His diagnoses of the cause of the barrenness. He had closed her womb; i.e., He was not giving conception.

But after a visit with Eli the outlook improves tremendously!  In 1 Samuel 1:19 we read, “And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.  And it came about in due time, after Hanna had conceived, that she gave birth to a son.”

What do we learn from this?  Simply that Elkanah and Hannah had Samuel because God Himself accomplished it, according to His will.  But we are not finished with the story!  

We know that Samuel was given to the Lord by Hanna, who had wanted a child so desperately.  We also know that God rewards His people for giving Him their most treasured possessions.  So what was God’s reward to Hannah for “returning” Samuel? 1 Samuel 2:20-21 tells us, “Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, ‘May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the Lord.’ And they went to their own home.  And the Lord visited Hannah; and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters.”

The text does not indicate Hannah’s response, but do you think she was disappointed?  Here we see a case in which God gave five children and thought it a reward!  Ask yourself, how would you feel if God rewarded you with five? A lot of work? Certainly.  A lot of blessing? We know it is - once you learn how to capitalize on it!

Baby Danika

Or would you rather use worldly methods and stop the possibility of having five?

David:

Some of you are sitting out there anticipating our next passage Psalm 139. There could not be a more amazing section of Scripture than this which chronicles so wonderfully the Divine beginning of each of our lives.  In verses 13 - 16 David says:

For Thou didst form my inward parts;

Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb.

I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Thy works,

And my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from Thee,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.

Thine eyes have seem my unformed substance;

And in Thy book they were all written

The days that were ordained for me,

When as yet there was not one of them.

Putting aside for the moment the question of whether babies-in-the-abstract come from God, think about where YOU in-the-concrete come from.  Psalm 139 tells you that you are not a statistical product, but were begun - ‘formed,’ ‘woven,’ ‘wrought’.  Even the number of days you are given on the earth from conception to decomposition has been specifically chosen by God.  None of us is an ‘accident’!

Psalm 100:

The teaching of the Old Testament may be summarized by saying that children are not simply the result of a s*xual intercourse and conception, but it denies that conception is inevitable, or that parents possess the power to make it happen.  In fact, Psalm 100:3 states the matter with crystal clarity: “It is He who had made us, and not we ourselves.”

Saying that we parents do not possess the ability to ensure conception is actually one of the understatements of all time!

All these Scriptural examples prove that God controls the process of fertilization; that you and I are NOT products of probability, but of His ability.  Gad has ordained the specific starting point of every life ever lived, including any future children He might give us or you. 

Baby Andrew

Yet, what about the New Testament? Was this only for the Old Testament?

Elizabeth:

Now it’s barren Elizabeth’s turn to be blessed.  In Luke 1:24-25 it is written, “And after these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant; and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, ‘This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days, when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.’ “

There was no question in Elizabeth’s mind as to who should get the credit for her great joy.  God had ‘looked with favor’ on her and created John.

Luke, A doctor’s diagnosis:

Dr. Luke submits the medical report for Elizabeth in Chapter 1 verse 58: “And her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.”

Luke, for all his medical training and experience, had a far more scientifically accurate concept of origins than most of today’s scientists and doctors, for he understood perfectly that Joh’s life was a direct result of God’s “display of great mercy toward her.”

Hebrews:

The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews held to the same view.  In chapter 6 verse 14 he quotes Genesis 22:17 saying, “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply you.”  And in chapter 11 verse 11 he holds up Sarah’s faith in God as the Giver of children to encourage our faith: “By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of live, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”

It is a joyous fact that God opens and closes the womb! He alone decides when and if anyone will have any (more) children!  

Baby David

To come back to my opening statement regarding couples’ belief that choosing to have no more children and being conformed to the world in this area of their lives, actually doesn’t matter to God so much, since He is not involved in conception:  

According to the above evidence, God is very much involved!  To say the least, He has total control!

Baby Daniel

God is THE ONE who open and close the womb, with a purpose, in due time, to fulfill His Devine plan on this earth!

He is trustworthy with your medical condition, as well as your financial circumstances to surrender your womb!

Are you a Bible-Believing-Christian?

Who do you believe is in control of conception?  

Are children only the result of a  s*xual act and the probability of a sperm meeting an egg or does God open and close the womb?

You decide... and then act on it.

Baby Michael

This article does not address the issues surrounding infertility, rather the issue of interfering with your natural fertility. If you are struggling with the deep emotional and spiritual issues of infertility, you may already be intimately familiar with the roll God plays in conception and pregnancy. For reasons we may never understand in this life, God, in his unfailing wisdom, may have decided that you are not to have a baby of your own. Although this is very painful, I encourage you to look beyond the barrenness, into the loving eyes of Jesus, who is infinitely bigger than our biggest and deepest pain.

With love

Linnie