The Bible and Infertility
There are many couples in the Bible who struggled with infertility:
- Abraham and Sarah: they tried surrogacy because Sarah was so old that she laughed when she was told God had said they would have a son.
- Isaac and Rebekah tried for 20 years before finally having twins. "Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. " (Genesis 25:21)
- Jacob's wife Rachel could have no children because she was barren. She said to Jacob: "Give me children, or I'll die" (Genesis 30:1).
These passages could be used to suggest that infertility is part of God's plan - if you cannot have children then God has 'closed your womb'. You should pray to God if you are infertile.
However, they could also support infertility treatment, seeing IVF as a fulfilment of God's plans:
He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 113:9
