Incredible births that defied nature and proved the power of God and His love for His people.
The Bible records a number of extraordinary pregnancies, births that are not just exceptional, but truly miraculous. They are the fruit of a heavenly intervention that shows God’s love for his people.
1SARAH
Philippe Lissac / Godong
Sarah gave birth to her son Isaac at the age of 90 and subsequently breastfed him. Her husband Abraham was 99 years old. Indeed, God had assured the one who would be “the father of a multitude of nations” that he would have a son. The birth of Isaac, who would become the grandfather of the twelve children at the origin of the twelve tribes of Israel, demonstrated that nothing is impossible with God and that he always keeps his promises.
2REBECCA
Giuseppe Molteni | Public Domain
Isaac’s wife was unable to conceive, but she later became pregnant through prayer and heavenly intervention. While today ultrasounds can show a woman that she is expecting twins, Rébecca had this intuition and understood that her two babies were already in competition with each other.
When she asked God about her pregnancy, He told her:
“Two nations are in your womb.Two different peoples will emerge from your womb: one will be stronger than the other, and the elder will serve the younger.» (Gen 25:23)
Indeed, Rebekah gave birth to two little boys, Jacob and Esau. As for their sibling relationship, that’s another story!
3SAMSON’S MOTHER
Although the name of Samson’s mother is not known, it is said that she could not have children with her husband, Manoah. However, it is written:
“A man of God came to find me;he had the appearance of an angel of God, he was so imposing.I didn’t ask him where he was from, and he didn’t let me know his name.But he said to me: “You will become pregnant and you will give birth to a son.From now on, drink neither wine nor strong drink, nor eat any impure food, for the child will be devoted to God from the womb until the day of his death!”» (Jg 13,6-7)
This little boy, Samson, became the fearless hero of the Old Testament, who was instrumental in defeating the Philistines.
4 ELIZABETH
Renata Sedmakova | Shutterstock
The virtuous Elizabeth and her husband, a priest named Zechariah, were both old and childless. As a priest, this must have been particularly difficult to bear, because at the time people considered infertility a sign of God’s displeasure with a couple. However, after praying to God, Zechariah receives an answer:
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your supplication has been heard: your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son for you, and you will name him John.You will be glad and glad, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.He will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.» (Lk 1:13-15)
When the Virgin Mary , Elizabeth’s cousin, came to share the news of her own pregnancy, Elizabeth’s baby leapt in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth’s baby was of course John the Baptist, who paved the way for Christ the Savior.
5THE VIRGIN MARY
Thomon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The most astonishing of all pregnancies in the Bible is obviously that of the mother of Jesus Christ. The entire pregnancy of the Virgin Mary and what followed is a miracle, including her virgin conception, her unwavering faith that allowed her to say “yes” to the Lord, Joseph’s acceptance to raise the Son of God, and the birth, life and resurrection of Christ himself.
As we remember these miraculous stories, it becomes easier to remember that each life is truly a gift from the Lord.