He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. (1 Sam. 1:2-7)
Here a woman of God is unable to have children. It was not because of any sin on her part, or on her parents. The Scriptures state simply, that it was because the Lord “closed her womb.” The worldview of the ancient Jews readily understood that God was in control. Of everything.
Some however did not see things this way. The poor woman Hannah was constantly picked on and patronized by the other woman Peninnah who would point the finger at her and provoke her because of her problem as though it were her own fault. But God closed her womb for reasons beyond anyone’s understanding. It was the same with the man born blind, who was born that way for a reason that no one readily understood until Jesus came at the right time to reveal the works of God (John 9:2-5). Our carnal way of looking at such situations is that they somehow must deserve what they received.
But the reality is that God designed to show himself in a unique way to these people–”that the works of God might be displayed” (John 9:3). So when gospel preaching fails to “bring forth children” we must remember that God has likely willed that it happen so that his glory might be revealed in a way that he designed. As giving birth is always a miracle of God so is the growth of God’s seed. It is never mechanical or manufactured on an assembly line with prepackaged components. Sometimes God closes the womb and we don’t see fruit. Sometimes Christians will condescend on such situations and write them off as failures as Peninnah did with Hannah. But Hannah was not a failure. She was God’s providence and plan. At the right time, or “in due time” as the Scriptures say, God revealed his design for the situation and the prophet Samuel, one of the greatest prophets that ever lived, was born (1 Sam. 1:20).
They say that 80% of church planters fail. But we weren’t called to plant churches. We are called to plant the gospel. Christ is the only church planter there is.