The Pain of Childlessness
"You will be the father of many nations" Gen. 17:4.

Ray met Jake his first day on the job. During lunch, Jake asked, "Married?"
"Linda and I've been married seven years."
"How many kids do you have?"
"None," Ray sighed.
"What's the matter? Don't you like kids?"

Although Ray felt like telling Jake to mind his own business, he simply changed the
subject. After all, how was Jake to know? Doctors had just told Ray and Linda
they were unlikely to ever conceive a child.

Infertility hurts. In fact, Ray felt like all his future children had just died.

In Genesis 17, we find Abram at 99 and still childless. Previously
the LORD had promised him many descendants. Now God adds a new detail: "You
will be the father of many nations." To affirm this, He adds, "No longer
will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a
father of many nations" (Gen. 17:5).

Have you ever thought what it took for Abram to change his name? Imagine
him gathering all his servants together. "Folks, I have an announcement to
make. No longer call me Abram."

At that point, a servant may have snickered to his neighbor, "It's about
time the childless old man dropped that humiliating name Abram, Exalted
Father."

Then Abram continued, "God has given me a new name: 'Abraham, Father of
Many.'"

The servants probably struggled not to laugh out loud. "Exalted Father"
was embarrassing enough. Now their boss was stuck with the name "Father of
Many." But Abraham didn't feel stuck. He felt blessed with a promise.

What does Abraham's story have to do with missions? When it comes to
sharing the faith, we may experience barrenness. And it hurts. Sometimes
missionaries and their supporters feel like our friend Ray. They hope no one
will ask how many spiritual children they have, because the work has been
painstakingly slow with numerous setbacks.

How do we stick to our task through barren times? Trusting in God's Word,
we continue to expect the children He has promised. That's what Abraham did,
even though it made him look foolish.

Am I stretching the meaning found in Genesis 17? Not any more than Paul the
Missionary, who quotes Gen. 17:5 in Rom. 4:16-17: "Therefore, the promise
comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all
Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those
who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is
written: 'I have made you a father of many nations.'... Against all hope,
Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations."

We are saved by Christ's grace through faith in the Gospel promises.
Similarly, we share Christ trusting in God's mission promises. "Stuck" with
such promises, we can stick to the task through barren times.

1. Explore the possible feelings of barren couples who long to have
   children.
2. How might the new promise and names of Gen. 17:1-8, 15-16 have
   encouraged Abraham and Sarah to have intercourse with hope of conceiving a
   child?
3. Picture missionaries who have seen little fruit thus far. How might
   applying the promise of Genesis 17 to their circumstances encourage them to
   serve with hope?

On a large piece of paper, sketch a "family tree" of the many nations or
people groups represented among Abraham's offspring. You'll never fit them
all, but the exercise will illustrate God's faithfulness.