GOD IS GLORIFIED BY INCREASE

Isaiah 26:15, “Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, Thou hast increased the nation… Thou art glorified.”

Jeremiah 30:19 says, "I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small." The way that God honored Israel was by multiplying them!

BARRENNESS IS A CURSE

In the Word of God, fruitfulness of the womb is always considered a blessing. Barrenness is considered a curse. Look up these verses: Leviticus 26:22; Deuteronomy 28:18; 28:62; Hosea 4:10; 9:11-17.

Ezekiel 19:10-14 is an allegory about Israel where she is likened to a mother. As we read this portion of scripture, we get a picture of motherhood as God sees it, and then as it has degenerated today. God says that motherhood is exalted above everything else, but the enemy has sought to destroy this God given career. God personifies mothers with fruitfulness. She is meant to be "fruitful and full of branches." But when the glory of motherhood is cast down, the fruitfulness disappears. This scripture says her fruit (the children from her womb) is "dried up" (v.12) and it is "devoured" (v.14). We are seeing this happen today. Many mothers are voluntarily causing their wombs to be "dried up." Others leave it too late for childbearing. When they eventually decide to have a child, they are no longer fertile. The fruit of the womb is "devoured" from others by drugs, abortions and early hysterectomies. Is this a matter for rejoicing? No! This passage ends with these sad words, "This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation!"

Hosea 9:11-16 is also a sad passage. The "glory" of Ephraim was their "fruitfulness" which was the prophetic word given over them. Read Genesis 49:22-26 and Deuteronomy 33:13-17. Even the name of Ephraim means 'double fruitfulness'. It is a dual form of 'Ephrath' which means 'fruitfulness.' But in this passage God judges Ephraim for their sin and turning away from His ways. God's judgment was to take away their "glory" which were their children by "miscarrying womb and dry breasts."

Hosea 9:11, "Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird - no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!" This was God’s judgment on Ephraim.

Leviticus 26:21-22, “If ye walk contrary unto Me, and will not hearken unto Me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sings. I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number…” This was God’s judgment on Israel.

Psalm 106:14-15 AMP, God “sent leanness into their soul and thinned their numbers by disease and death.” This was also God’s judgment on Israel.

Luke 1:24-25, Elizabeth said, “He looked with favor upon me to take away my disgrace among women.” Barrenness was considered a disgrace. Isn’t it incredible that today man women choose disgrace?