Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full. The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away.
“ Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,” says the Lord.
As Isaiah said,“ Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband!”
Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.She became pregnant and gave birth to a son.“ God has removed my disgrace,” she said.
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.And Sarah declared,“ God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”
But the angel said,“ Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.
