There’s a promise in Isaiah 54:1, that the desolate or barren woman will have more children than she who is married.   This was true of my Aunt Bettie, long a single woman yet surrounded by children and young adults, and it is turning out to be true of me.

My fourth “~grandchild~” was just born, 13 hours ago as of this writing.  He has two real grandmas, perhaps a step grandma, and at least two churches and a distributed youth group that have anxiously awaited his arrival and are pleased to welcome him.  Still, I lay a little claim to his parents, and to the parents of my other three “~grandchildren~”.  They are among 20 or so now young adults who in their teen years nicknamed me ‘Mama J’, a title I wear proudly.

Pondering my crew, the memories and the continuing blessings, I went in search of that promise, to read it once again.  Wary of those who would grab a snippet of scripture and apply it out of context, I chose to read what Isaiah wrote in the chapters before and after this word.  Here’s what I found:

Isaiah 53 is among those scriptures known as the “Suffering Servant Prophecies”.  It is here that our Savior is described as one who carried no physical or charismatic attraction, one who was despised and rejected, yet who willingly chose to bear our iniquities on Himself, in full agreement with the Father, that we might be restored to relationship with God.

Isaiah 54 opens with:

“Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,”
says the LORD.

There is a paragraph about the shame of her youth, being rejected as a wife,
…and being claimed by God Himself, as her Redeemer and Husband.

Her children will be taught by the Lord, and have peace.  (amen, may it be so!)

If she comes under attack, it will not be from Him,
…and He will vindicate, so that no opposition will succeed.

There is meaning for me in these words – specific meaning, in all of them.

Isaiah 55 is an invitation from the Lord – an invitation to participate freely in the covenant provided by Jesus, the suffering servant of chapter 53.  There is a plea to seek and find Him, find refreshment, and fullness.  There is the assertion that we can’t look at His offer on our terms, in the way we do business, because His ways are immeasurably above ours.  There is the promise that He will bring joy, for the sake of His own reputation, because

He is the God who keeps His promises, always.

Isaiah 54, with its promises of husband and family, stands between the description and the invitation of our Lord.  He knows what rejection is, and He invites us, with or without resource, credentials, or heritage, to participate in His realm as welcome and beloved.

Single woman, unchosen or rejected,
with no born children to carry on your genes:
You have a faithful and generous Husband who will never reject you,
and you will have plenty of children.

(that includes me)