Be Fruitful and Multiply

"Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominon over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" -Genesis 1:28

This dominion mandate is easily divided into two commandments as stated in the middle of the chiasm: "fill the earth" and "subdue it". We assign the female to the role of filling the earth and it the lot falls to her to people the world. But is this only answer to the Lord calling?

"but all the members do not have the same function...having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them." -Romans 12:4, 6

Perhaps she says to herself, "I can never have children" or "perhaps I will never marry." And yet the commandment is still directed towards us. "Be fruitful!" "Multiply!" How Lord? How can I accomplish this?

Remembering that you can not accomplish anything. You must remember that all things are from the Lord. He brings two together to make one; that He opens and closes the womb; that He brings the rains in the spring and the sun in the summer for the multiplication at harvest. Rembering that God is the one who does all this, what has He multiplied for you? How has He increased your number? Be thankful for that increase, whether it be related to only you, or if your husband got a promotion, or if he got a compliment, or if you were given a new opportunity.

Thanks be to God for a faithful husband, good jobs for us, an increase in wealth, a growth in maturity, and a desire for more.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of you heart." -Psalm 37:3,4