A Fertile Field

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You know how sometimes you read a passage in the Bible and it just totally comes alive? Like as if it were literally jumping off of the page and into your heart? I will admit, this does not happen to me as often as I would like. Mostly because I think I read too fast and not nearly enough. Well, these words I read seemed to leap into my heart! Praise the Lord!

Here is the passage, (Isaiah 32:9-20):

"Rise up, you women who are at ease,

And hear my voice;
Give ear to my word,
You complacent daughters.
10 Within a year and a few days
You will be troubled, O complacent daughters;
For the vintage is ended,
And the fruit gathering will not come.
11 Tremble, you women who are at ease;
Be troubled, you complacent daughters;
Strip, undress and put sackcloth on your waist,
12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
13 For the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up;
Yea, for all the joyful houses and forthe jubilant city.
14 Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken.
Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever,
A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks;
15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high,
And the wilderness becomes a fertile field,
And the fertile field is considered as a forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness
And righteousness will abide in the fertile field.
17 And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
18 Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation,
And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places;
19 And it will hail when the forest comes down,
And the city will be utterly laid low.
20 How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters,
Who let out freely the ox and the donkey."

Who are the women at ease? Why were they being asked to rise up? I am no Bible scholar, but it seems these women had hearts that were far from Jesus. From what I have researched regarding this passage, these women were full of idolatry and carelessness. They were at ease with living for themselves and remaining in their sin.

As the passage continues, these women are warned that trouble will soon encroach upon them. They are urged to mourn. They are commanded to be troubled. This was a major wake up call for them. However, why would they be asked to be troubled? Maybe these women were so caught up in their idolatry that they were blind to both the inner and outer turmoil taking place. Something had to happen for God to get their attention...

The passage seems to indicate that there is no peace or fruitfulness until the Spirit is poured out. One commenter says it this way, "True satisfaction is only to be had in true religion." As I read that statement I recalled my prayer when I first become pregnant with Rhea Hope in Fall 2014, "Jesus, help me to be satisfied with you and you alone. Even if this pregnancy fails and we never get pregnant again, be my joy and satisfaction." 

I am one of those women. I have been at ease and complacent with my own sin many times. What I love about this passage is how it says peace will not come until the Spirit is poured out. Will you join with me in prayer that His spirit will be
poured out upon woman (and men) everywhere? The passage also mentions how the wilderness will become a fertile field. A wilderness is often a dry, weary land full of unknown and people wandering around lost. Can you imagine the Holy Spirit leading all those wandering people out of the wilderness?

 "A fertile field." When I consider fertility, I always think of physically fertility.
 Obviously this passage is about spiritual fertility. May the wilderness of infertility that so many women struggle with be filled peace, confidence,
 and rest. In the same way, may our spiritual infertility become a fertile field of peace, confidence, and rest as we are filled with the Holy Spirit. 

I recently read a few posts of a blog by "Caroline In Due Time." She has struggled with primary infertility for about three years or so. Her and her husband decided not to pursue fertility treatment and to trust that God will give them a child "in due time." What an amazing testimony of a woman not at ease and not complacent with living for herself...a woman full of peace, confidence, and rest in her savior. Obviously, she goes through hard times, (she is very real and open in her blog), but she continues to trust and I believe she is truly satisfied in Jesus.

"And the fertile field is considered as a forest." I am praying for women everywhere that they will experience spiritual and physical fertility and the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon us all! May we look forward in whatever field we are in. May the snow fall of His presence fall upon us as we follow in His footsteps wherever He leads us. May our hearts be cleansed white as snow and may complacency be trampled and left behind as we are filled with His peace, confidence, and rest- even in what may seem the longest and coldest Winter ever.