Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.” Isaiah 54:2 (ESV).
Isaiah 54 is named the eternal covenant of peace. The study notes for this chapter say God commands his people to prepare joyfully for their future. This line so resonates with me in this moment of history. When God gives us commands, there is a powerful and beautiful space of surrendering to trust that what God asks us to do is for our good. He leads us as a loving Father, and our obedience results in joy and peace.
What does it really mean to joyfully prepare for our future, the eternal covenant of peace, heaven, glory? This word “prepare” is so readily in my spirit and in so many others. This is a time of preparation, preparation for the future. This preparation involves enlarging the place of your tent. Your tent is your home: the place of your dwelling. This command is to make room for many to come into the family of God. This is so very exciting! Enlarge the place of your tent, let the curtains of your habitation be stretched out. DO NOT HOLD BACK. Lengthen the cords and strengthen the stakes. Oh Lord, would you do this?
This prophecy is both personal and corporate. Ir was to the children of Israel that many would be coming into the family of God: us! We are that “many.” What if the Lord desires for us to stay in this mindset of preparation and enlarging until he returns? Many believe this is physical like they need to build bigger buildings to gather more people. But what if the enlarging needs to come into our hearts, where we make room to disciple more people, where we do not hold back in sharing the good news of Jesus and the life that He came to bring.
God describes those who do not share the good news as barren. We are called to be fruitful and multiply, but this is not just natural or physical. This is only possible because of Jesus, His glorious grace and the plan of redemption for all mankind.
The present task of God’s people is to labour in expectancy. This line describes exactly what it feels like right now in the kingdom. There is a labouring, contending, and standing firm in the promise of an end harvest and revival. I feel as though we do not know what we are asking for, but all we want is to give our lives, spend our lives, pour out our lives for the sake of the gospel, and lead many to know him.
God commands His people to confidently expect His endless compassion. It is our position in the presence of our King. He calls us, His children, into right relationship with Him, describing the renewal like the restoration of a deserted wife to a loving husband who would give His life for her. Covered, known and loved and completely forgiven for any wrongdoing or failings. Come, Lord Jesus!
Carol Ann Garnett
Lord, enlarge my heart!