Let’s start the day by reviewing God’s promise to Israel.  Last week’s study centered on the miraculous re-birth of Israel, so before we sail from that port, let’s re-visit Ezekiel 36.  Read Ezekiel 36:22-38.  Despite profaning His name, God remains faithful to Israel!  In vv 24-30, there are many things God says He will do for His chosen people.  How many “I will’s” did you find in that passage?  What does that tell you about God’s commitment to Israel?

What was Israel’s response in v 31, and what did God say the land of Israel would be like after her re-birth (vv 33-36)?

Indeed, the Lord promised to make an incredibly desolate place beautiful again.  He also promised to fill it with “flocks of men,” who will know that He is the Lord.  Consider those prophecies for a moment.  The Jezreel Valley of Israel is a lush farm land that produces the most vibrant fruit and vegetables in the world.  The tiny land of Israel also exports more flowers than any other country in the world, and work is being done in the barren Negev Desert to make it bloom.  Though millions of Jews have flocked to their homeland, it has only been in recent years that Israel’s population of Jews has exceeded New York’s Jewish population.  Finally, though many are very devout in their worship of God, the Jewish people as a whole have yet to know Jesus as Messiah.

Here, we see prophecy partially fulfilled, but 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  The apostle Peter, in this passage regarding preparation of the end times, declares the Lord to be right on time!  We can trust that God will indeed be right on time with what concerns us, and that He will definitely be right on time with what concerns His chosen people!  His prophecy will be fully fulfilled in His time!

The promises of God are true and trustworthy!  If God ceases to keep His promises to His chosen people, what hope do we have?  Aren’t you glad that God and His Word are absolutely, 100% trustworthy?

Good work today, mates!  We’ll set sail on a new venture tomorrow, so be sure to join us!