Isaiah 43:18-19

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?”

• DAILY READING •           John 21; 2 Chronicles 33; Psalm 89:1-18

150 years ago, the land of Israel was a barren wilderness. It was a land no man passed through. At that period, among the many travelers and historians who observed and wrote about the barrenness of the Land of Israel, was the great American writer Mark Twain. He toured the Holy Land in the late 19th Century and in his travelogue titled, “Innocents Abroad”, he describes the land as “…a desolate country given over wholly to weeds…we never saw a human being on the whole route…hardly a tree or shrub anywhere.  It is a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land.’

Indeed, after the scattering and exile of the Jews in A.D 70, the land of Biblical Israel,  was turned into a desolate wilderness which no one inhabited. However, From the early 1880s until 1904, due to outbreak of persecutions against Jews in different nations, waves of Jews began to return back to their ancient  homeland. Over 25,000 immigrants arrived in Israel, from Russia, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Yemen etc.

On arrival, the land that these early Jewish pioneers faced was harsh to say the least. Half the country was desert. Life was difficult: Some  of the new immigrants, unable to endure the harsh conditions, returned to the countries they came from. However many others stayed back, choosing to believe God’s promise of restoration.  These Jewish pioneers gave over their lives to bringing the land and the nation back to life. They, and the waves of other Jews who followed, made the desert blossom with every kind of fruit, vegetable, and flower.  And  through their efforts, since 1900 almost 250 million sub-tropical trees have been planted in all regions of Israel.

Today, in fulfillment of Isaiah 35:1, Israel the desert is blossoming “as the rose”. Israel exports food and flowers to many nations. It is one of only six countries in the world that has a surplus food supply. This fact is incredible when you remember that as late as 1948 the consensus of world opinion was that a people could hardly even survive in the land of Israel. This, is fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:34, 35 which says “The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden’”.

Israel’s miracle of restoration is something the world has never seen before. Indeed God has done a new thing and turned the wilderness into a fruitful land.

Isaiah 43:18-19 says “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?”

In this new month believe God for a new thing.  God keeps covenant and fulfills His promises. It is true sometimes it may seem as if God’s promises are being delayed, but like those Jewish pioneers who refused to quit the land but stayed on until they saw God’s promise fulfilled; we must learn to hold on to God’s Word.

Understand that the power for the fulfillment of God’s Word is backed by the power in the blood of Jesus.  His blood was shed to give us a new life, a change of story and usher us into a new season. Revelation 5: 12 says  He is the Lamb that was slain to receive for us power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

What that means is that  Jesus has already paid the price for us to enjoy a fruitful season on earth. He has made every provision for us to enjoy a victorious life. So no matter how barren the land may seem now, ultimately we are headed for a bountiful harvest. What looks  like a desolate wilderness now is about to become like the garden of Eden. Indeed God’s promise to unveil His glory this year will find speedy fulfillment in your life.  Surely your mourning is about to be turned to dancing.

And one key way to access the bountiful harvest  God has for us is through joy.  Isaiah 12:3 tells us that ‘it is with joy that we can draw water out of the wells of salvation.’ Joy is the sickle for our harvest.  God has so much lined up for us but we need joy to come into our promised season of glory. It is when we praise God that the earth yields her increase.  Therefore,  as we remain  joyful, no matter what we may face, surely by the blood of Jesus, we will gain access into our new season of increase and bountiful harvest. Indeed God is doing a new thing for us. And as we remain joyful, He will turn every desert around us into a fruitful field.

PRAYER: Lord,  please help me to learn to look beyond the present and keep my eyes on Your promise. I know you have so much in store for me this year. As I remain joyful, by Your grace, my portion shall never elude me in Jesus name.

QUOTE

Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will set you free.- – WORDBITE 222.