Can anyone (Christians perhaps?) help with my Bible paper?

[Amzey]

For my Conversations of the West class I need to write a paper on Genesis and Exodus. I need to analyze the theme of fertility throughout Genesis and Exodus, basically this is my paper topic:

"At a number of places in Genesis and Exodus, God commands people to be fruitful and multiply. He can be harsh in punishing infertility. Against the Egyptians, His most severe punishment is in cutting the line between fathers and sons by killing off all the first-born. At other times, He seems to compromise his own promise by inhibiting fertility among His own people. Analyze the theme of fertility in these two books of the Bible; consider both the stories of individuals dealing with fertility issues, and the overall importance of the theme as a storyline running through the whole narrative."

My question is, I know there are many devout Christians who might know and understand these stories better than I do.. can anyone think of specific examples relating to fertility?

Aaaah, major stress, paper due Thursday.. should not have bought a ticket for Oklahoma tonight..

 

[Jeff in BigD]

Well, Abraham is a no brainer & I would probably also use Passover as well.

Good luck & let us know how the paper turns out.

 

[TigerBear]

Don't forget to call on our Jewish friends for help too.

 

[Amzey]

Oh yes, Jewish friends too! Christianity just seems to be predominant here on the DIS.. I would love help from anybody who knows anything about Genesis and Exodus. I wasn't positive whether the Jewish faith still studied these stories or not, but thank you for clearing that up for me, TigerBear.

 

[Boots]

Don't forget Rachel and Leah either.

 

[wdwfam]

Think about the fact that many of the people in Genesis lived well over 900 years in order to populate the earth. How many children did they have? The Bible says many. I think that could mean a lot more than we have today. The story of Rachel and Leah are excellent examples of fertility issues, and Rachel trying to take things in her own hand by offering her handmaid to Jacob. Sarah tried the same thing. The people dealt with issues we deal with today. If you really get into the stories, there are reasons that God decided with those women when they would have children. Faith was the issue. What an interesting topic you have to write about. Good luck with the assignment.

 

[Buckalew]

Nothing more to add. I could have written the post above mine! Both the example of Sarah and of Leah and Rachel are good ones. What a great assignment to dive into. I'd love it!

 

[Goofyposter]

Groosch....I doubt that this helps...but eros is our resident "expert" on fertility .....yer might want ter pm him

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, don't forget about the mandrake plants which Rachel stole from Leah... that is a VERY important things.. read what mandrake plants do or were know to have!


The impatience of Rachel, abnd how she gave her handmaiden to Abraham to sleep with.

The haidmaiden and the family, became Moab. Moab was enemies for years with Israel.
****
Exodus... well lets see here. I have to think here.

The Passover really didn't have much to do with infertility. It is because of the multiplication of the Jews and the refusal of the mid wives to kill the babies which caused discontent with Pharoah. The Jews were too numerous, and that made him nervous.

But if you truly think about it, why did Pharoahs wife grab Moses out of the river? Did she suffer from infertility, or was it a lucky break for Miriam ?

My guess is that she suffered from infertility. Now at that time, to suffer with barreness, and to take a Hebrew baby and make it your own in an Egyptian household was a huge task. Now how did that happen? The bible is silent on this issue. Did Pharoahs wife pretend to be pregnant for appearances? Did she feel pity/remorse or did she really want to have a baby?

How did Pharoah feel about this "adoption'? The Bible is silent on this as well.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Sorry Amy I can't help you. I know nothing about this topic but I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK!

 

[Buckalew]

Just a note-- It was Pharoah's daughter who found Moses in the basket.
And Rachel was Jacob's wife. (But Sarah was Jacob's grandmother and she gave her handmaiden to sleep with Abraham, her husband, because she wanted a baby also.)
Just so you don't get confused from the post--it all gets very confusing!

 

[Cindy B]

oops, I screwed up.. thanks Buck!


You can tell I didn't have my coffee yet!

 

[fkj2]

Sorry to admit that I can't help you either on the early Bible but you should also consider just WHY having children then was so important.

Farming and agriculture were integral to survival of the family. It was then and still is, but certainly less so, very labor intensive. If couples didn't have children, their lineage would die out but also their economic well-being suffered as well.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

Sarah was menopausal when the angels came to Abraham's tent and told her she would have a baby. she laughed. Isaac's name means laughter. she had Abraham banish Hagar and Ishmael when they became a threat to Isaac.

the Lord's promise to Abraham was "follow Me and I'll make you the father of a multitude" -- the highest honor was to become the father of an entire people.

Rebecca had twins -- Jacob and Esau. lots of milage there.

when Joseph brougth his family to Egypt, they came as free men. one of the reasons the Eqyptians enslaved the Israelites was because of their fertility -- the Egyptians feared the Israelites would outnumber them

Rachel and Leah -- the wives of Jacob -- followed Sarah's lead in giving their handmaids to Jacob for the purpose of begetting children. there was a lot of unhappiness in that family because Jacob preferred Rachel but Leah was the more fertile. Rachel didn't give Jacob children until long after Leah had many sons.

you've also got the whole Adam and Eve story. and don't forget Noah -- how the earth was repopulated after the flood.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

by the way -- as an aside -- since you weren't certain that Jews study Exodcus and Genesis -- the first five books of the Bible are revered by Jews as the Torah ---our most holy Book, handed to us by G-d at Mt. Sinai. we use the rest of the Old Testament as well, but the Torah is considered the Crown of our Life, and is also called the Tree of Life. we recite the Exodus story at Passover every year. male converts to Judaism are referred to as "(Name) son of Abraham our Father", and female converts are referred to as "(Name) daughter of Sarah our Mother."


Christian and Jews each put a different spin on some of the stories in the Old Testament, but it is something we share.

 

[MrsPete]

Another example would be Hannah. Her husband had two wives (acceptable in those days), and the other woman had several children. She had none, though she wanted them badly. Her husband loved her more than he loved the other wife, and he was miserable for her. The other wife made fun of her because she was barren.

She prayed that God would bless her with a child, and she promised that if He gave her one she would dedicate that child to God. She gave birth to Samuel, and -- just as she had promised -- she took him to the temple after he was weaned. Samuel was trained as a priest and became known as a great prophet.

Because she had turned to God for help and because she had followed through with her promise (to give the child to the Lord), she was blessed with many more children.

You can find MANY examples of children as blessings in the Bible -- especially the Old Testament.

 

[Cindy B]

Hannah wasn't in Genesis or Exodus.. that is 1 and 2 Samuel.