THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Divine Scripture mentions the age of Isaac and then notes that his wife Rebekah was unable to have children. Observe the faithfulness of Isaac. Upon recognizing her inability to conceive, he turned to the Creator, striving to break her bonds through fervent prayer. “And Isaac prayed to the Lord for Rebekah his wife, because she was barren.” It is important to consider why Rebekah was barren, especially since both she and her husband lived extraordinarily virtuous lives and maintained great chastity. We cannot question their righteousness or suggest that their childlessness was due to sin. Interestingly, barrenness extended beyond Rebekah; both Sarah, Isaac's mother, and Rachel, Jacob's wife, also faced this challenge. What could account for such a pattern among the righteous?
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All were virtuous, and God testified to their righteousness, stating, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6). Additionally, Paul affirms that “God is not ashamed to be called their God” (Heb. 11:16). They receive abundant praise in both the old and new covenants, being honored in every regard, yet all had wives who were initially barren and childless for extended periods.
Thus, when you encounter a God-fearing couple who live righteously yet remain childless, do not hastily conclude that it results from sin. There are many divine purposes beyond our understanding, and we should express gratitude to God for all circumstances. Only those who indulge in sinful lives can be regarded as unfortunate, not those who are unable to conceive. God often orchestrates events for our benefit in ways unknown to us, so we should marvel at His wisdom and laud His boundless mercy. This reflection serves to encourage you to remain grateful for God’s Providence, shielding you from despair regarding His judgments.
The reason for the barrenness of the wives must be understood: it is so that you do not fall into disbelief upon hearing of a virgin giving birth to our Savior. Train your mind as the Scriptures instruct, by the example of the barren women; take note when a once-barren womb is opened by divine grace for conception, and do not be astounded when you later learn of the Virgin's miraculous birth. Or rather, be amazed yet believe the miracle. When a Jew questions, “How can a Virgin give birth?” you can respond, “How did a barren elderly woman give birth?” In the latter case, there were two barriers—the unfruitfulness of age and the limitations of nature; yet for the Virgin, there was just one barrier: she was unmarried. Thus, the barren woman paves the way for the Virgin.
To further affirm your belief in the Virgin birth, heed the words the angel spoke to her. The angel announced, “You shall conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.” Surprised, she questioned, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:31, 34-35). He indicates that you should not seek natural explanations when dealing with the supernatural. The Virgin’s question, “How can this happen to me since I do not know a man?” highlights that her lack of knowledge of a husband is why this miracle is possible. Had she been with a husband, she would not be worthy to serve this divine mystery. Therefore, believe precisely because you do not belief—this is not to condemn marriage but to exalt virginity.
The incarnation of our Lord must transcend our ordinary experience; it was a royal entry. In His birth, there are aspects similar to our own, yet fundamentally different. Both realities are fulfilled: He shared in human birth from His mother, yet He was conceived outside the bonds of marriage—this surpasses nature. To possess a womb is inherent to humanity, but to conceive without physical union exceeds natural limits. Grasp both His shared human experience and His extraordinary nature. The brilliance lies in that neither His elevated nature diminishes His kinship with us, nor does this kinship lessen His superiority. Both attributes are present in His actions: some are entirely common to our experience, while others are distinct.
This leads us back to the barren women who preceded the Virgin to encourage faith in the miraculous birth, guiding her to believe the angel’s message. The angel conveyed, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you,” assuring her that her conception would stem from divine intervention, not earthly means.
Realize, beloved, how the once-barren give rise to belief in the Virgin's childbearing. Because the initial evidence was beyond her comprehension, the angel next illustrates with relatable examples. “Behold,” he says, “Elizabeth, your relative, who was called barren, has conceived a son in her old age; she is now six months along” (Luke 1:36). This reference to Elizabeth serves to authenticate the Virgin's faith; otherwise, it begs the question of why he mentioned her relative's conception at all and emphasized her barrenness. He does this to strengthen her belief in the good news, stressing the age and limitations present at Elizabeth's conception and announcing the remarkable timing of her pregnancy.
The angel did not first refer to Sarah, Rebekah, or Rachel as they belonged to ancient history, rather, he directed her attention to a more immediate miracle to reinforce her faith.
Returning to Isaac’s virtue, it is evident how through prayer, he addressed Rebekah’s barrenness, surmounting the constraints of nature. “And Isaac prayed unto the Lord for Rebekah his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord heard him.” The narrative does not imply that the answer to his prayers was immediate; rather, it indicates that for twenty long years, he persistently prayed before receiving what he desired. We recognize this through detailed examination of Scripture. The text does not obscure the time frame but presents it subtly, inviting our curiosity. We learn Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah (Genesis 25:20). Notice this critical timing. The Scripture then informs us that “Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah bore him children” (Gen. 25:26). Hence, Isaac prayed for twenty years until God worked through Rebekah's womb. Observe how powerful prayer can conquer even nature itself.
Let us emulate Isaac, maintaining steadfastness in prayer with a diligent spirit and humble heart. Recall Paul’s exhortation to “lift up holy hands without wrath or doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8). Strive to rid yourselves of anger and remain at peace, especially during prayer, wherein we seek God’s favor. If He perceives our prayers as aligned with His divine will, He will generously bestow His blessings upon us, which we will enjoy through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, power, and honor with the Father and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever, unto the ages of ages. Amen.