More are the Children of the Desolate

“Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.” — Isaiah 54:1

Ruth and Obed ­— Michelangelo, Public Domain Image

The arc of Israel’s narrative in redemptive history in many ways presents an allegory of our own individual conversion. Of our own selves we are barren and destitute of any merit. Throughout the scriptures children are described as a blessing and a reward from the Lord, which comes with it the presumption that infertility must also correlate with sin and failure. Many a woman in the Old Testament poured out their complaint before the Lord to be relieved of the reproach of barrenness. The Lord was pleased to deliver each of them in due time, even those that were well past childbearing age (for with God nothing shall be impossible) [1].

But how can the desolate have more children than the married wife? By the gospel of our faith which is not of the flesh but of the spirit. Paul calls Timothy his "own son in the faith" and Onesimus as someone, “whom I have begotten in my bonds. [2]” The Bible is not saying that men get pregnant. It is saying that through the foolishness of preaching[3] Paul has become a spiritual parent to a burgeoning believer. Galatians 5:27 says,

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Selah.

Scripture References: [1] Luke 1:37 [2] 1st Tim 1:2, Phil 1:10 [3] 1st Cor 1:21

Of Whom Speaketh the Prophet?

“And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

— Acts 8:34

The Eunuch asks this question as they read Isaiah 53, one of the most profound and explicit messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. But we would do well to ask this question often as we read the scriptures. On the road to Emmaus our Lord calls his own disciples fools and slow of heart for not recognizing his true mission in the prophets of old. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” — Luke 25-27

The Supper at Emmaus — Caravaggio, Public Domain

Where did Moses and the Prophets speak of Jesus? Genesis 3:15, Genesis 49:10-11, Deuteronomy 18:18-19, Numbers 24:17-19, Leviticus 16:7-9, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 34:20 to name only a few.

In every passage of scripture ask yourself what God is revealing to us concerning himself and you will not be taken in by false teaching.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

— 2nd Timothy 3:16

Selah

Men of Understanding

“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.”

- 1st Chronicles 12:32

Photo by Henry Be via Unsplash

God can use two hundred as well as two thousand or twenty times two thousand. What distinguished the tribe of Issachar was not their numbers but their understanding.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

– Proverbs 9:10

Only by faith are true wisdom and understanding acquired. The smallest tribe excelled in this regard and lead their brethren. For the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. When we are weak and lowly of spirit, then is the greatness of our God exalted.

Selah.