DEVOTIONAL
A Plant of Renown
(Reflection - March 2006)
There are two prophecies in the Old Testament which tell us about food in the land of Israel after Christ sets up His Kingdom. The first is found in portions of the 34th chapter of Ezekiel:
I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country...I will feed my flock and I will cause them to lie down, saith the LORD God...And I will set up one shepherd over them and he shall feed them...and I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods...there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit and the earth shall yield her increase...AND I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM A PLANT OF RENOWN, and they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more...Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God.
This scripture is a beautiful description of the salvation of Israel in the latter days. But what about the ‘plant of renown?’ Does not this sound like a new food substance that has not been seen before on planet Earth? It sounds like some delicious and prolific fruit or vegetable created by Christ, who has all power in heaven and earth.
The other verse is found in Isaiah 27:6: “He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: ISRAEL SHALL BLOSSOM AND BUD AND FILL THE FACE OF THE WORLD WITH FRUIT.”
Does the ‘plant of renown’ that Christ raises up unto them in the land become a blessing to all the nations?
Scripture tells us that there will be worldwide destruction from the Lord in the time of trouble because of worldwide wickedness. We are told in the Olivet Prophecy that famines are one of the signs of his coming. We also know that there is much famine in the world today. Millions of people are starving to death.
When Christ takes over the rule of this world he will save the poor and needy and him that hath no helper. Not only is he going to feed his people Israel, but he will also be the ruler of the Gentiles and will bless the survivors of the time of trouble and make them happy citizens of the Kingdom of God. This is the gospel message, and the prophet suggests he will use a ‘plant of renown’ as he fulfills his purpose.
May the day soon come when wars and violence and destruction cease all over the world and these scriptures come to pass before our eyes.
Esther Giordano