Genesis 21:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

That an aged woman could conceive and still be able to sustain a child at such an advanced stage of life?’

As if taken aback by this miracle, she continues, ‘Who would have said to Abraham, “Sarah will breastfeed her children?” For in his old age I bore a son.’ This event transcends the natural order, prompting Sarah to question, Who would consider it? Who could envision this? What mind could grasp it? What reasoning could adequately account for such an occurrence? The marvel of water flowing from the rock in the wilderness when Moses struck it (see Ex. 17; Num. 20) pales in comparison to the miracle of a child born from a womb once deemed lifeless, accompanied by streams of milk. To ensure that the miraculous nature of this birth was made clear to all, both those who witnessed it and future generations, Sarah herself cares for the child, undertaking the duty of nurturing him with her own milk, and exclaims, Who would have said to Abraham, “Sarah will nurse her children”? Is it not a new and unexpected consolation that I have borne a son in my old age? What does it imply that I have borne a son in his old age? It signifies that, despite my barrenness, the very seasons of life had led to the abandonment of all hope for childbirth. Yet the Lord, having removed every barrier, granted me both the joy of a son and the miraculous ability to produce milk.

It is worth noting that if some attribute this saying to him, it could also apply to others present, as in, "Who will announce to my Lord? The Lord Himself, He will hear" (Ps. 151). To inquire, "Who will explain to an adult the nourishment of an infant?" may be seen as an interpretation that is more sophisticated than plausible. This should suffice. Moreover, it is significant that Sarah did not state, "she has given birth," but rather "she is nursing," to avoid the implication that the child is illegitimate. The presence of milk confirms the birth, and the flow of milk serves as the clearest evidence of the authenticity of the birth.

Even if the child survives, he may be frail, as his system is unaccustomed to milk that comes from a different body and lacks the benefits of his natural mother’s nourishment. In contrast, a child nurtured with his mother’s milk thrives and, upon reaching maturity, embodies strength and intelligence, as affirmed by naturalists.

Another detrimental outcome occurs when infants consume milk from wet nurses; they may inadvertently absorb the nurse’s habits and ailments. If the wet nurse is afflicted by any condition, the child is likely to inherit that suffering. If she embodies anger, spite, or hostility, these qualities may also be transferred to the child she nourishes. Should the nurse exhibit behavior such as drunkenness or moral depravity, the child is likely to adopt those same vices as he grows. The third consequence is that a child who has not been fed by his mother may, upon reaching adulthood, lack the love and reverence for her that those nurtured by their own mother’s milk possess. Children who feel little affection toward their mothers offer her less honor. The most troubling are those mothers who resort to feeding their infants with cattle's milk, as such a practice instills animalistic traits in the children, leading them to develop behaviors devoid of reason and morality.

Just as cattle lack understanding, fail to grasp good and evil, and exhibit no empathy, children raised on animal milk may similarly become foolish and insensitive, incapable of expressing compassion or mercy towards others, remaining cold-hearted and unyielding. This is the harm of turning to others’ milk for nurturing! It is a disgrace for mothers to feed their children anything but their own milk, sharing the same shame of unthinking beasts. Unlike animals, which instinctively feed and care for their young, human mothers are abandoning their own, for reasons only known to God.

Experience demonstrates that caregivers with harmful habits can transfer vices through their milk, tainting the child’s entire life. Blessed is the child who is nurtured by a Christian mother! An insightful author expresses the desire for the child to remain in the mother’s embrace for an extended period—not to receive indulgent affection, but to gain guidance and care that fortify them. What a fortunate child! His mother will tenderly navigate his early steps and comfort him in his initial trials; she will plant the first thoughts within him and stir the earliest emotions in his heart; she will be the first to introduce him to God and help him behold the wonders of this immense universe. She will unveil some of creation's marvels to him. Observe this child, kneeling in focused prayer! What grants him such ability? Prayer elevates the soul to God, and how can this child, whose concerns are limited to mere toys, reach up to heaven? Indeed! This is a miracle performed by the mother, or rather, the notion of God is an inherent part of humanity, awakened by a single gentle voice. Though the child is still innocent of knowledge, the Infinite Being resides within him. Oh, Philosophers! Have you ever pondered this miracle?