The birth of a son was a major source of hope in biblical times. Daily life was hard so the goal was often mere survival. Since males were the breadwinners, they provided a better hope for the future than females. Who else would take care of parents in old age? There were no social security programs, retirement plans, or nursing homes. From a financial perspective “a son is born” was one of the best things that could be heard.
But there’s much more.
After Adam and Eve were tricked by the serpent and trespassed the divine boundary, God spoke these words to the serpent:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15 NIV)
Notice the singular male pronoun—“he will crush your head.” Humans lost the first match, but God guarantees that they will be victorious in the end. How so? One of Eve’s male descendants would crush the serpent’s head.
As the narrative of Genesis continues, we encounter Abraham and Sarah who are childless. Although Abraham assumed that his servant would become his heir, God said, “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood wil be your heir” (Genesis 15:4). Then God took him outside, showed him the stars, and said, “So shall your offspring be” (v. 5). Abraham would become a “great nation” through his biological son. Twenty-five years after God called Abraham, a son was born; they named him Isaac, meaning “he laughs.” Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6). At the time, Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90. The people of Israel are the offspring of the promised son that brought laughter.
Centuries later when Israel was being oppressed by the Philistines, the angel of the LORD visited another couple who were childless. The angel told the woman, “you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son . . . he will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:3). As the angel foretold, “The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson” (v. 24). Samson grew up and routed the Philistines on several occasions. In total, he led Israel for twenty years.
First Samuel opens with the story of Hannah and Elkanah who, you guessed it, couldn’t have children. Hannah wept bitterly and prayed intensely to have a son, promising to give him to the LORD for his entire life. Then “in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,” which sounds like “heard by God” (1 Samuel 1:20). After Samuel was weaned, Hannah took him to a priest named Eli, who raised him. Samuel became one of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history, anointing the first two kings of Israel.
About a thousand years later, a priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were unable to conceive. While offering incense in the Jerusalem temple, an angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (Luke 1:13). John grew up and became the forerunner of Jesus the Messiah. Known as John the Baptist, people flocked to hear his message of repentance while he baptized them in the Jordan River.
Six months after Elizabeth became pregnant, an angel visited a virgin named Mary. The angel said, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:30-33). Mary would give birth to an eternal king, the ultimate serpent crusher. While Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, “the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son” (Luke 2:6-7).
As the story of Jesus’ life unfolds, he defeats Satan in the wilderness, drives out evil spirits, heals the sick, raises the dead, shows compassion to outcasts, confronts religious hypocrisy, and stands for truth. And all of that leads to his condemnation and execution as a common criminal. But three days later, he conquers death by rising from the dead. He now sits enthroned at God’s right hand, where he reigns as Lord.
The stories of sons overlap because God was involved in the birth process and they all hint at humanity’s final victory over the serpent. Lastly, the words spoken to Mary fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy announced 700 years before Jesus was born:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from this time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this. (9:6-7)
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.