“But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, ‘Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.’”
(Galatians 4:26–27, ESV)
Years ago, I started up a corporation designed to improve manufacturing performance in printing plants. It included both managerial and technical assessments and solutions to improve productivity. In the first couple years, the company hit two six-month dry spells. They were times when no business came in and there was no revenue. In each of these both the business finance and my families own personal finances went all the way to zero. Things were dismal. What kept me going? It was hope.
We ended up weathering the dry spells. Through them I had the hope that in some way the Lord would provide. I have to admit that sometimes, my hope became an I hope so. Yet the Lord did provide. Every time our finances were at rock bottom, I would receive a call from people who were looking for my services. The business continued. Through those times, I learned to trust the Lord. I knew that one way or another He had a plan for me.
As previously mentioned, Paul presented an allegory using Sarah and Hagar to demonstrate the blessings of faith in the promise versus trusting in one’s own works for justification. Previously, he mentioned, “the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother,” represented by Sarah the free woman. The point being that blessings of grace come not through bondage to the law as represented by Hagar, but to those of faith. In context with this thought, Paul quoted from Isaiah 54:1.
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
This is a prophesy of Isaiah that promised future blessing to the nation. It was given prior to the Babylonian captivity. In short, there would be a time of great prosperity and blessing for Israel. “For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
While Israel would once again experience a return to Jerusalem some seventy years after the exile (Jer 29:10) and the subsequent restoration of the city, Paul does not present the prophesy as completely fulfilled. He looks to a future time when those who are of Abraham’s seed will experience the ultimate blessing of their faith.
For all who have received salvation by grace through faith, the future is unbelievably awesome. All of us who are in the faith will experience trials in life. Jesus stated it, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV). However, we who have believed have a great hope for the future. It is one of tremendous blessing. Regardless of what we have gone through or will encounter, we have an assured hope, guaranteed by the Lord. We will overcome in Him and we will experience the promise of the millennial blessings.
Renewing the Heart 