Daily Devotional
Heal Our Land
February 17, 2012 - 5:00 amThis Devotional's Hebrew Word
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”—2 Chronicles 7:14
At first glance, the geography of Israel does not lend itself naturally to agriculture. More than half the land is desert, and the climate and lack of water resources do not favor farming. Yet, Israel is a major exporter of fresh produce to the world and a world-leader in agricultural technologies.
How did they accomplish this? Since Jews began returning to the Holy Land and settling there in the late 19th century, they worked hard to restore the land. They cleared rocky fields, constructed terraces for farming, drained swampland, reforested certain areas, and took steps to counteract soil erosion. They even washed salty land to make it more productive!
The end result is that since Israel became an independent state in 1948, the total area of land now under cultivation has increased from 408,000 acres to slightly more than one million acres. Today, Israel produces many types of crops, from wheat and corn to a wide variety of vegetables, and is one of the world’s leading citrus producers and exporters.
While the people of Israel were successful in restoring their land physically, the verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us all that there is also a need to restore our land spiritually. The people of Israel had been summoned to Jerusalem for the dedication of the Temple. Kneeling on a specially constructed bronze platform, Solomon offered a prayer asking for God to remember His promises to the people, to hear and forgive the people, and to protect the people from crime, war, and enemy attacks, and the land from famine and drought.
So verse 14 comes as God’s reply to Solomon, and He instructs Solomon on what is required for forgiveness for the people and for healing of the land. The people needed to: 1) humble themselves before God; 2) pray for forgiveness; 3) continually seek God; and 4) turn from sinful behavior. When the people agreed to do these things and change their behavior, then God would forgive them and heal their land.
The same is true of us today. Whether we are dealing with individual sin, or the sins of a group, or even a nation, God will forgive and bring healing to all those who seek Him earnestly in prayer and who come humbly before Him.
Greetings from ND. Before my knowledge of being Jewish, my love for God was deep in my heart. Yet since I have partaken of the Torah and TANACH, there is a new revelation of the love, grace and mercy of YHWH, God. My family and I have always been drawn to our Jewish heritage-never understanding why it was. Today there is a drawing to be closer to my brothers and sisters whose hearts also beat for our Lord. Tonight I am writing as there is such a draw in me to be in Israel. In the mean time, myself and others pray for you as we are aware of the dangers that you are facing. There is comfort in God and in the history of the Lord’s protection and intervention for us and for Israel. In studying the TANACH I see a people who are mighty warriors: those obdiant to follow God. I too have this in me. My name, Louise means mighty warrior. And, it is as a warrior that I pray. Some needs to hear, so I write. God loves you. Jeremiah 29:11-13 is a profound, wonderful message for those who do not feel/know the intimacy with God. I may be sharing that which you already know. Nevertheless, I challenge you as I do myself: have you embaced that you are God’s by design? created in His image? with a pupose that develops as you walk in intimacy with your Lord, YHWH, God? Selah Blessings and Shalom, Louise
I have recently been reading Haggai esp As short as it is, there are so many facets we all should attend to I our daily lives. In 2 Chr. 7:14, there are things we should be doing. About 3 years ago the Lord spoke to me about, and how we suffer our own selves not really understanding how much we miss out on all the world could be if we only would stay on His path. Even more, for those who do not know, and do not care, for the one who sacrificed for all. He gave these words to me:
(1) Be not concerned with your house, when my house is empty.
(2) Even though you come to my house, say’s the Lord, you walk away without my Joy.
(3) You have seem me only to live on the fence, burning without purpose.
(4) I know you as you fall, but you do not ask for my gifts.
(5) Do not lose my blessing, as it is free.
(6) You have planted much, but have gathered little.
(7) You eat, but never have enough.
(8) You drink, but never have your fill.
( 9) You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.
He calls us to turn these situations around, not to stay in pit. Don’t just wait for someone to help you out, they may be right next to you in the pit. Lift up your eyes to glory, he is reaching down to you.
God Bless to all at IFCJ
Touch The Ground Ministries
John Plyman
jettgm@yahoo.com