Sarah’s Supernatural Transformation

“The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised.” (Ge 21:1)

Sarah’s supernatural transformation from being an old woman who at the age of 90 was “worn out” (Ge 18:12) and past the age of childbearing, into becoming a beauty queen that Abimelech, the king of Gerar, desired as a wife, is a picture of Jerusalem’s supernatural transformation at the end of this age.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.” (Isa 65:17-18)

Paul compared Sarah to heavenly Jerusalem, the city that will one day descend from heaven, writing:

“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.’” (Gal 4:27)

God visited Sarah at her old age and fulfilled his promises to her “at the appointed time”. At that time “Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?’” (Ge 18:11-12)

“The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.” (v. 1-3)

God will in the end visit Jerusalem and transform it to become the praise of all the earth “at the appointed time” the moed that He has ordained. This is referring to the Feast of Tabernacles, the final great Feast of Joy. Jerusalem is the city of the great King, “the joy of all the earth”. (Ps 48:2) Joy is the key word for New Jerusalem.

“And Sarah said, ‘God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.’ And she said, ‘Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’” (v. 6-7)

Isaac is a picture of the Son, the Messiah. His name means “laughter”.

“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!” (Ps 48:1-4)

Let us faithfully pray for the restoration of Jerusalem. Psalm 126 continues:

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Ps 48:5-6)

Let us not “waver concerning the promise of God”. (Ro 4:20) Let us instead grow strong in faith giving glory to God, fully convinced that God is able to do what he has promised for Jerusalem. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Ro 15:4)

“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her; that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.’ For thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the LORD shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.’” (Isa 66:10-14)

Daily Bread