who does not have childbirth pains; because the children of the desolate woman number more than those of her who has the husband.’ Now we, brothers, are children belonging to the promise the same as Isaac was. But just as then the one born in the manner of flesh began persecuting the one born in the manner of spirit, so also now. Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? ‘Castout the servant girl and her son, for by no means shall the son of the servant girl inherit with the son of the free woman.’ Wherefore, brothers, we are children, not of a servant girl, but of the free woman.”—Gal. 4:22-31, NW.

Hagar represented the law covenant arrangement that was instituted at Mount Sinai and that brought forth natural Israel as a nation of people for Jehovah’s name and that resulted in Jerusalem with its temple for the offering of sacrifices according to the terms of the covenant. This natural, earthly Jerusalem was constantly reminded by the law requirements that it was in bondage to sin and death. The children this arrangement brought forth were in slavery, just as was the son of the servant girl Hagar. Yet for a long time they were the only children produced. Sarah had no offspring, though she was the free woman and had a promise of a son. Finally she did have this son, Isaac. She represented the new covenant arrangement and the Jerusalem above, which waited a long time before bringing forth children. Until she did she was desolate, like a wife of youth cast off, like a widow, as though not married or husbandless as far as offspring were concerned. It was the Jerusalem corresponding to Hagar that seemed really married and productive of children.

In Hebrew a city is feminine in gender, is spoken of as a woman, and its residents are referred to as its children. Heavenly Jerusalem, the Jerusalem above, Jehovah’s invisible organization, like Sarah, finally brought forth a seed of promise, the Seed promised at Genesis 3:15. After a wait of four thousand years she did this when Jesus was brought forth as Jehovah’s Son when he was baptized and spirit-begotten. More free children of promise, not under the Hagar law covenant of bondage, were brought forth by the free woman at Pentecost and thereafter, as others were spirit-begotten and made a part of Christ’s body or his heavenly congregation. These were persecuted by the Jewish religious system and its leaders, the correspondency of Hagar’s son Ishmael who persecuted Isaac. Nevertheless, the offspring of the Jerusalem above multiplied while those of the natural, earthly Jerusalem that proved unfaithful were cast off as children of the great Father and Husband, Jehovah. Sarah was a woman living in a tent, and a family increase would have meant enlarging the tent; so the woman organization corresponding to Sarah was told that the time would come when she would have to enlarge her tent. In time she would have more offspring than the Hagarlike law arrangement that produced the nation of Israel, but all of whom, except a small remnant, were unfaithful and remained in bondage to sin and death. So the married wife of Isaiah 54:1 was the unfaithful Jerusalem whose residents or children were cast off, whereas the one long desolate, as a cast-off wife or widow without children, is Jehovah’s universal organization, the Jerusalem above, who in due time brings forth many children.

Announcements

PREACHING FOR THE PURPOSE OF A WITNESS—Matt. 24:14, NW.

The work of God’s witnesses is not in vain. It reaches people throughout the world with the vital information that the old world is nearing its end and the kingdom of God is at hand. The message being accepted by some and rejected by other persons, the hearers are being marked as either “sheep” or “goats.” Those who hear with acceptance may, in turn, join in the preaching with Jehovah’s witnesses, who, during April, will continue going from house to house giving oral Bible sermons and offering a year’s subscription for The Watchtower for $1. Three booklets will be given free to each new subscriber. If you would like to join in this grand work, write the Society or get in touch with the nearest group of Jehovah’s witnesses.