Joel 2:25 ‘And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.’
DAILY READING – Galatians 3:19-4:20; Lamentations 1-2; Psalm 145
Israel though a small country, and threatened on all sides, is nonetheless making major contributions to the world in such areas as hi-tech and medical advances. Israel is also leading the way in agricultural innovations and water conservation. It pioneered drip irrigation and currently recycles over 80 percent of its wastewater, far outstripping any other nation. And, although over half of its land is still arid desert, Israel exports high-quality farm produce in all seasons, even while its neighbors must import food to feed. It also would surprise many to learn that the Israeli people are blessed with one of the most nutritious food supplies in the world. In a recent global survey by the Bloomberg news agency of the world’s healthiest countries, Israel ranked an impressive sixth, far ahead of the United States at number 33. Yet the land of Israel was not always so fruitful. In fact, the land lay desolate for all the centuries of Jewish exile, and in both Christian and Muslim lands where the Jews were dispersed, they were largely forbidden from owning land. This meant they had basically lost the ability to farm and had to rely on the Gentiles to feed themselves. The desolation and exile Israel suffered was prophesied in the Bible and God had warned them that this would be their fate if they turned their backs on Him. The land itself would “vomit out” those inhabitants who turned to wickedness (Leviticus 18:28), and the fields would lie desolate in their absence. Meanwhile, the Jewish people were also told they would be scattered among the nations and would never find a place to rest their feet . The sword would follow after them, and they would bear the reproach of famine while in exile.
Yet despite these punishment, God also promised that one day He would come and find His people, no matter how far they had been scattered, and restore them back to the land promised to Abraham and his descendants as an “everlasting possession”). This promise of a future restoration is spoken of by all the Hebrew prophets and is affirmed by all the great covenants of the Bible. And today God has brought back restoration to His people according to His promise.. This small country with a population of about 8 million people, continues to amaze the world with its prowess.
In Joel 2:25 God says ‘And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm,’
The restoration of Israel is a sign to us that God is faithful to restore back to us what we may have lost, when we reconnect to Him. It is through sin or disobedience that we suffer losses. But when we repent and return back to God He restores what was lost. God has a plan of restoration for His people. It doesn’t matter how much the enemy has tried to tamper with your life and destiny there is restoration. Your joy will be restored, your peace will be restored, everything stolen from you is about to be restored fully in Jesus name. But don’t forget, if you remain far away from God you remain far from this restoration. Understand that the enemy only has power over you as long as you are in rebellion to God. As we have seen from the story of Israel, suffering losses only come as a result of straying outside of God’s will. But the moment you return back to God, He turns His hand against your enemies and brings restoration to you. So make up your mind today, to pay whatever price it takes, to stay in the center of God’s will . Never mind what you may seem to have lost in the past, as you draw closer to God today, be assured of all round restoration in Jesus Name. .
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to draw closer to You, so that I can begin to experience restoration of the years the canker worms may have eaten away from my life. Thank You Lord for enabling me to begin to experience full restoration, in every area of my life in Jesus name. .
Quote
God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials. WORDBITE 222.