A Call

This morning as I was reading in Isaiah, I stumbled upon verses that I have read before but just glazed over. Today, they jumped out at me as God provided new meaning for me in these verses.

Isaiah 54:1-3
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.

Wow! How often do we talk about how we don't understand how so many folks who won't take care of their children can pop them out left and right and those who truly WANT children and can love them and care for them cannot. Here is that very situation described in God's Holy Word. This isn't news to Him! He's not up there shaking His head and wondering why this is happening. He doesn't see this as a new development in history. I love the next verse:

Isaiah 54:4
Enlarge the place of thy tent and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes.

To me, this is the very specific call to adoption. Even I the Old Testament, the Lord had to urge folks to open their homes to children. Now I am fully aware that the true, in depth, prophetic meaning of this passage of scripture is God speaking to the Israelites who have tried to continue to serve Him in spite of the many in their nation that turned away from God. He is saying that He will enlarge His kingdom by opening salvation to the Gentiles through Christ's redemption. But God has also shown me this morning, that it's surface meaning is also for our everyday lives.

When we expanded our family through the gift of adoption, this was not the scripture that urged us on despite all odds. We clung to the story of the woman whose oil and flour never ran out when she baked the cake for Elijah first - we had nothing at the time. We were struggling financially in ways that some folks will never even imagine, but we gave our home (it's all we had to give!) to God first and He provided for us in unthinkable ways. Our "oil and meal" never ran dry. There was always enough for what we needed.

At that time, this specific call to adoption from Isaiah  probably wouldn't have meant as much to us. But maybe someone else needs to hear this call. Is God calling your to "enlarge your tents?" If He is, rest assured, HE WILL PROVIDE! Don't ever let fear or the financial aspect of adoption cloud this call. It's a step of faith like no other. Trust Him.

Isaiah 54:8
 . . . but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.