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1. Hannah
Hannah
Book: 1 Samuel 1-2
Tribe: Ephraim
Husband: Elkanah
Children: 6 (after Samuel)
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About The Prominent Child - Prophet Samuel:
Samuel, a key prophet, judge, and kingmaker, was one of the most consequential figures in Israel's transition from a unified kingdom. He anointed the first two kings of Israel. Hannah's long wait produced the man who literally inaugurated the monarchy that defined the entire subsequent history of the nation, proving that faithfulness brings forth necessary, foundational figures for God's plan. -
Interesting Fact:
She was so filled with sorrow and prayer in the temple that the priest Eli thought she was drunk.
🕯️Did you know?
After she gave birth, she fulfilled her vow and dedicated her son, Samuel, to the Lord's service at the temple. Her commitment demonstrated that the miracle was not for her comfort, but for God's glory.
Her Story Of Faith And Promise
Hannah's story is one of profound and persistent prayer, illustrating the power of desperate communion with God.
She was married to Elkanah, who loved her deeply, but she lived in constant anguish because she could not have children. To make her suffering worse, her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, had children and would taunt and provoke Hannah relentlessly, especially during their annual pilgrimages to Shiloh.
8. Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9. So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
1 Samuel 1:8-18
This torment was her refining fire....
Year after year, Hannah would go to the temple to worship, but her heart was so filled with sorrow that she could not eat. She wept bitterly and poured out her soul to God in what seemed like a drunken display to the priest Eli, vowing that if He would give her a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord for his entire life.
Her faith was anchored not in the assurance of immediate comfort, but in the belief that God was sovereign over her distress.
19. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
1 Samuel 1:19-20
Her faith and desperate prayer moved God’s heart, and He remembered her, proving that the most desperate prayers often yield the most dedicated servants.
Key Lessons
- Pray with Persistence: Do not let the duration of the wait or the severity of the shame stop your consistent prayer. Hannah poured out her soul annually.
- Prioritize God's Purpose: Make a radical vow to dedicate your desire back to God. A promise dedicated to God's service is often answered more quickly than one focused solely on personal relief.
- Vulnerability is Strength: Don't hide your pain. Be so raw and desperate with God that human logic can't explain your posture. True desperation moves God's heart.
2. Rachel
Rachel
Book: Genesis 29-35
Tribe: Not Applicable
Husband: Patriarch Jacob
Children: 2 (Joseph and Benjamin)
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About The Prominent Child - Joseph:
Joseph was the indispensable savior who preserved the covenant family and established them in Egypt during a devastating famine. He became a key leader in Egypt, saving his family and an entire nation from famine. Rachel’s years of intense emotional torment and yearning produced the very son required to save the nascent nation of Israel. -
Interesting Fact:
Her name means "ewe," but her story is one of a fierce fight for her lineage.
🕯️Did you know?
Her death occurred while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (Bethlehem). Her legacy of sacrifice cemented her place as a weeping mother over her descendants.
Her Story Of Faith And Promise
Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, endured deep sorrow and intense rivalry as she watched her sister Leah have four sons while her own womb remained empty.
Her suffering wasn't just physical; it was an emotional torment fueled by the constant reminder of her unfulfilled role in her husband’s house and lineage.
Crying out to Jacob in her desperation, she expressed the agony of feeling incomplete: "Give me children, or I shall die!" Her life became a relentless competition, and her tears represent the desperate yearning for validation and purpose. Her trial was intense because she was the chosen wife, yet initially infertile.
1. 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.
2. 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 30:1-2
It was only after years of waiting and emotional torment that God heard her prayers and finally opened her womb, not once, but twice, to bring forth sons who would hold the future of nations.
Key Lessons
- Acknowledge the Source: Remember that "God has made me fruitful." Do not credit any human effort or struggle; acknowledge that all breakthrough is from God alone..
- Resist Desperation Tactics: Rachel's early use of her servant, Bilhah, mirrored Sarah's mistake. Learn from this: forcing God's plan through human effort leads to strife, not true fulfillment.
- Cling to Your Identity: Despite the competition and her physical struggle, Rachel remained the woman God destined to be the mother of the greatest leaders (Joseph and Benjamin). Your present condition does not negate your ultimate purpose.
3. Sarah
Sarah
Book: Genesis 11-23
Tribe: Not Applicable
Husband: Abraham
Children: 1 (Isaac)
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About The Prominent Child - Patriarch Isaac:
Isaac was the literal fulfillment of the impossible promise, ensuring the purity of the covenant lineage. His birth, when Sarah was ninety years old, magnified the power of God, making Isaac’s very existence a permanent proof of God's faithfulness. Isaac, the patriarch through whom God's covenant with Abraham was passed down, ensuring the promised lineage was purely divine. -
Interesting Fact:
God changed her name from Sarai ("my princess") to Sarah ("princess of many nations").
🕯️Did you know?
When the angels told Abraham she would have a son, she was in the tent and laughed in disbelief, but when confronted, she denied it out of fear, demonstrating the raw humanity of her faith journey.
Her Story Of Faith And Promise
Sarah’s story spans decades of waiting for the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise, an endurance that tested her human frailty.
She was advanced in age, and the idea of having a child with her husband, Abraham, seemed completely impossible and illogical from a physical standpoint. This impossibility was the exact condition God required to prove His power.
In her impatience and doubt, she took matters into her own hands by giving her servant, Hagar, to Abraham to have a child, which only led to more strife, regret, and pain within the family, showing the consequence of trying to force God's timing. Yet, God’s plan was not to be thwarted by human error.
He revisited His promise, reaffirming it with conviction, and at an age when she was far past childbearing (ninety years old), He miraculously opened her womb to give birth to Isaac.
9. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13. And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14. Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Genesis 18:9-15
Her laughter of disbelief turned into a testimony of joy—that which is impossible with man is possible with God.
Key Lessons
- God Specializes in the Impossible: God waits until the natural option is removed (old age/barrenness) to ensure the breakthrough is entirely miraculous.
- The Power of a Changed Name: God confirmed Sarah's destiny ("princess of many nations") before the miracle manifested. Focus on the identity God has given you, not the shame the world sees.
- Repent and Trust the Word: Even after laughing in doubt and making mistakes, God’s promise stood. If you have wavered, return to the Word He spoke to you and trust it completely.
4. Manoah's Wife
Manoah's Wife
Book: Judges 13
Tribe: Dan
Husband: Manoah
Children: 1 (Samson)
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About The Prominent Child - Mighty Samson:
Samson, one of the greatest judges and deliverers of Israel, known for his supernatural strength. He was a singular, divinely consecrated champion raised up to initiate the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines. His incredible, supernatural strength was the direct, physical manifestation of the Nazirite vow placed upon him before birth. -
Interesting Fact:
She was the first person to receive the angelic message about the birth of her son and his Nazirite vow.
🕯️Did you know?
She and her husband did not know it was an angel of the Lord until he ascended in the flame of their sacrifice, confirming the message was purely supernatural.
Her Story Of Faith And Promise
The story of Samson’s mother, though her name is never recorded, is a testament to the power of perfect obedience to the miraculous instruction.
She is introduced as a woman who was unable to bear a child, a silence that created the perfect atmosphere for a divine visitation. Her struggle is not detailed as much as others, but we know her faith was great, focusing immediately on the angelic message rather than her own physical inability.
It was to her that the angel of the Lord first appeared, announcing that she would conceive a son who would be set apart for God's purposes, requiring a Nazirite vow from birth.
2. And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
3. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
4. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
5. For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
6. Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
7. But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
Judges 13:2-7
The angel gave her and Manoah specific instructions on diet and dedication, and she faithfully obeyed every detail, demonstrating a profound, trusting response to the miraculous message.
Her faith prepared the way for the deliverer of Israel.
Key Lessons
- Obey the Instructions: The miracle came with a mandate (the Nazirite vow). If God gives you a specific instruction during your wait, obey it perfectly, as it is foundational for the destiny He is preparing.
- Protect the Promise: She was careful about what she ate and drank to protect the promise within her. Guard your heart, your intake, and your environment while waiting for your breakthrough to manifest.
- Focus on the Messenger, Not the Method: She accepted the angelic word immediately without doubting her physical condition. Focus entirely on the truth of God's spoken word, not the limitations of your body or circumstance.
5. Rebekah
Rebekah
Book: Genesis 24-28
Tribe: Not Applicable
Husband: Isaac
Children: 2 (Jacob and Esau)
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About The Prominent Child - Patriarch Israel (Jacob):
Jacob was the foundational patriarch whose name was dramatically changed by God to Israel, becoming the literal father of the twelve Tribes. Without Rebekah's twenty-year wait and Isaac’s fervent prayer, the direct line that became the nation of Israel would not have been established. -
Interesting Fact:
God gave her a prophecy while she was pregnant that two nations were in her womb.
🕯️Did you know?
God gave her a prophecy while she was pregnant that two nations were in her womb, and the older would serve the younger, showing her role in shaping national destiny.
Her Story Of Faith And Promise
Rebekah was chosen by Abraham's servant to be Isaac's wife, a union ordained by a miracle of divine guidance at the well.
Yet, after they were married, she remained barren for twenty years, a hidden sorrow within a marriage founded on a miracle....
Her barrenness was not just a test of her faith, but a test of her husband's intercession.
The Bible records, "Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren."
21. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
23. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
24. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Genesis 25:21-24
As you have read it was only after Isaac prayed earnestly to the Lord on her behalf that she conceived. This pivotal detail shows that sometimes the breakthrough requires two people actively seeking God's intervention, turning a shared trial into a shared answer.
Her patience and Isaac's prayer led to a powerful answer, but also to a deeper mystery concerning the divine choice of her children.
Key Lessons
- Embrace Intercessory Power: Encourage your spouse, family, or faith community to intercede on your behalf, turning a private trial into a shared spiritual pursuit.
- Let God Choose: When she inquired of the Lord during her pregnancy, she received a prophecy that confirmed God's sovereign choice. Don't fight for what you think is right; seek God's voice concerning the destiny in your hands.
- Faithful in the Small Things: Rebekah was chosen for her remarkable hospitality and service at the well, long before the pregnancy became an issue. Faithfulness in your daily actions often precedes the grand breakthrough.
6. Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Book: Luke 1
Tribe: Levi (line of Aaron)
Husband: Zechariah
Children: 1 (John)
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About The Prominent Child - John the Baptist:
John the Baptist was the forerunner to Jesus, who prepared the way for the Messiah. He held the most unique and irreplaceable prophetic role in history: he was the final prophet sent to physically announce and prepare the way for the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Elizabeth's lifelong reproach was ended for the highest purpose imaginable—birthing the Lord's Forerunner. -
Interesting Fact:
She was a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus, making the two miraculous births intertwined.
🕯️Did you know?
When Mary visited her, the baby in her womb leaped for joy as she was filled with the Holy Spirit, demonstrating that the child was filled with the Holy Spirit even before birth.
Her Story Of Faith And Promise
Elizabeth's story provides the perfect bridge between the Old Testament promise and the New Testament fulfillment.
She and her husband Zechariah were devoted to God, "walking blamelessly in all the commandments," but had no children, and this was considered a great reproach, intensifying her private grief.
Her advanced age made the possibility of motherhood a public impossibility, magnifying the power of the miracle to come. It was while Zechariah was serving as a priest in the temple that an angel appeared to him, declaring that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son who would be the forerunner of the Messiah.
24. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Luke 1:24-25
Elizabeth’s pregnancy in her old age was a profound miracle that brought an immediate end to her lifelong shame and served as a powerful, physical confirmation of God’s plan of redemption.
Her barrenness was necessary to perfectly time the arrival of the one who would prepare the way for Jesus.
Key Lessons
- Maintain Character During the Wait: Do not let your sorrow compromise your integrity or your devotion to God. Maintain your "blameless" walk.
- Trust the Divine Timing: Her miracle was timed perfectly to intersect with Mary's. Your personal breakthrough will happen at the exact moment required for God's larger, global purpose.
- Embrace the Testimony: When the answer comes, use your story to testify loudly that God turned your shame into honor: "The Lord has done this for me."
7. The Shunammite Woman
The Shunammite Woman
Book: 2 Kings 4
Tribe: Not specified
Husband: Not mentioned
Children: 1 (miraculously conceived)
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About The Prominent Child - The Shunammite's Son:
The Shunammite's son stands as a profound symbol of God's power over every form of barrenness, including death itself. His miraculous resurrection was a critical sign in the Old Testament, demonstrating God's sovereign power to restore life where it has been utterly lost. -
Interesting Fact:
Her son was raised from the dead by Elisha, revealing her faith was strong enough to reverse the ultimate impossibility.
🕯️Did you know?
Her son was raised from the dead by Elisha, a miracle that foreshadows Jesus's power over death and reveals that her faith was strong enough to reverse the ultimate impossibility.
Her Story Of Faith And Promise
And now lastly the Shunammite woman, a wealthy and faithful servant of God, was barren, though her story focuses less on her sorrow and more on her unwavering faith expressed through extravagant, selfless hospitality.
She saw the need of the Prophet Elisha and proactively built a small, dedicated room for him to stay in whenever he passed through.
8. And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
9. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
10. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
11. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.
12. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.
13. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.
14. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.
15. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.
16. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.
17. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
2 Kings 4:8-17
As you have now realized that it was not a request for a son that opened her womb, but her action of service that prompted the prophet to ask what favor he could do for her, hallelujah!
In return for her faithfulness, Elisha prayed for her, and she was promised a son. Her story demonstrates that God's blessings can come not only through direct prayer for a need, but also through selfless acts of service and kindness, proving that a fruitful life often precedes a fruitful womb....
Her faith was further demonstrated when she later saw her son die and was able to claim his life back from the prophet, believing in the God of resurrection.
Key Lessons
- Practice Proactive Hospitality: Her blessing came not from crying for a son, but from serving the Prophet. Serve the ministry and vision God has put in front of you; fruitfulness often flows from selfless giving.
- Refuse Defeat: When your breakthrough seems to die, do not mourn passively; go immediately to the source of your faith and demand restoration.
- "It Is Well": Even in the face of death, she declared, "It is well." Maintain a posture of peace and faith, even when the evidence is clearly against you.
Conclusion
The barrenness these women experienced was not a punishment but a strategic and necessary part of God’s divine, unfolding plan....
Their stories prove that the pain of waiting is not wasted time; it is often preparation for a greater purpose and the necessary vacuum that allows God's glory to fill the void.
The Master's Curriculum in the Wilderness
Think of the years of waiting as God's deliberate course correction. He was shaping the vessel that would carry destiny. Hannah learned the depth of prayer that leads to radical dedication. Sarah and Elizabeth learned to trust God despite biology and public opinion.
Rachel learned that God's timing is superior to human striving.
The patience cultivated in that barren season created mothers whose faith was unshakeable, preparing them not just to give birth, but to raise a generation of world-shifters. The greatest miracle was not just the child's arrival, but the maturation and refining of the mother's character.
When you look at the sons born from these women—Samuel, the kingmaker; Joseph, the savior of nations; Isaac, the covenant link; and John, the Forerunner of Christ—you see that the scale of the miracle perfectly matched the magnitude of the purpose...
...your present inability is not a sign of God’s neglect; it is a prophetic indicator of the size of the assignment coming your way.
God allows impossibility so that when He finally moves, the breakthrough is undeniably divine and the fruit is eternally impactful. The wait secured a legacy that survived millennia.
Barrenness is your Goliath, and once you defeat that stronghold through persistent faith, you gain the strength to defeat the entire army of impossibilities in your life, whether in business, health, marriage, or ministry.
What may seem like a closed door is actually a fertile ground where God is planting something miraculous.
Do not lose hope...
Be faithful to the end, for God will never forsake you.
He is about to break the padlocks of barrenness in every area of your life, proving that the most desperate prayers lead to the most dedicated vessels and the most profound destinies. The seeds you watered with tears will yield a harvest of eternal significance.
May the Lord Jesus's peace and mercy be with you because I know it is the are things that you need more than anything...take care, keep praying and remember He is coming; He is ready and standing at the door now as we speak! BE READY FOR RAPTURE AND KEEP WATCHING, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN AND AMEN!
Give you life to God today and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Pray this simple repentance prayer now and you shall be saved!
Do not wait for tomorrow do it right now while you still have the opportunity!
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