He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root, Israel shall blossom and fill the face of the world with fruit.
DAILY READING – Hebrews 13; Exodus 18:1-19:25; Proverbs 8
Down the ages we have seen several manifestations of the promise of God. One glaring example in the present time is the blossoming of the nation of Israel. In Isaiah 27:6, God prophesied about a future restoration of Israel saying, ‘He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root, Israel shall blossom and fill the face of the world with fruit.’ This prophecy was made by Isaiah about 2700 years ago. But after he made that prophecy, there was nothing in Israel’s history at the time that would suggest that such prophecy would ever come to pass. In fact, everything suggested otherwise. In AD 70, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the Jews were carried into exile. And for almost 2000 years afterwards the Jews were scattered all over the world among the nations. During that period, nothing like the tribe of Israel existed anymore. Their land was taken over by the Arabs and the name of the region was changed to Palestine. For about 2000 years, Israel was in exile, scattered to different parts of the world. Many Jews were killed in Russia and Ukraine; in government ordered killings called pogroms. Over 6 million Jews who lived in Europe were killed by Hitler in the holocaust. But after so many years in exile, God began to re-gather His people again. And in 1948, to the amazement of the world, the nation of Israel came again into existence! Despite all the odds against it, including constant Arab hostility, it has survived till date. The Word God spoke through prophet Isaiah is finding fulfillment. Israel is indeed blossoming, being one of the leading nations in technology and innovation today. Practically also, Israel is indeed filing the face of the world with fruits as one of the highest producers and exporters of fruits and flowers in the whole world today. 2700 years after Isaiah made that prophecy, it is coming to pass. This is yet another evidence of the infallibility of God’s Word.
What God says He will do, He will surely do; God is not man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said it? He will surely make it good. This should be an encouragement to you, that the promises of God concerning you will surely find fulfillment. Many times we are the ones that move before God’s Word arrives for fulfillment. Out of impatience we decide to ‘help’ God by following the ways of men. Like Abraham, too impatient to keep waiting for the long promise of Isaac, we decide to birth an instant Ishmael.
It is important that we wait for God’s Word to be fulfilled. God may not be early, yet He is never late, He is always on time. His timing is always perfect because He is working with a divine blueprint that will cause everything to work together for our good. As Habakkuk 2:3 says, ‘Though it tarry wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry.’ As His promise came to pass at the appointed time over Israel, so shall it come to pass concerning you!
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to wait for Your promise, enable me to rest in You until Your word is fulfilled in my life.
Quote
God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials. WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]