Israel Trip: Day 8 (Nov. 16)- The Lord has rebuilt and replanted the desolate land of Israel just as He promised. The land of Israel is becoming like the Garden of Eden.
Imagine young David making his sheep lie down in green pastures and leading them beside still waters in this region south of his hometown of Bethlehem. In these same Judean hills, the young man David fled from King Saul and hid in some of the same caves he explored as a youth. David composed many of the Psalms in these hills, yet very few people ever venture here or live in this desolate place in Judea (the West Bank).
We traveled to Arugot Farm and saw for ourselves the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy! After 2000 years of exile, the Jews are returning to their Promised Land, and, with the help of the Lord, they are turning the desolate land into the Garden of Eden.
We met with Rabbis Gimpel and Abramowitz. Their vision is to create a place of rest and worship for all nations. They have turned a desolate place into a flourishing complex with orchards, vineyards, gardens, homes, and a hotel, along with sheep, horses, chickens and a house of prayer. We saw, touched and experienced prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes in Judea.
Challenge: You can be a part of God’s story. A Rabbi in Israel said to me, “The Jews can fulfill all the prophecies in the Bible except one. We cannot make the nations come to Israel.” God is calling all the righteous people upon the earth to enjoy their inheritance, The Promised Land. We were adopted into God’s family, and we need to see our Father’s dwelling place alongside our siblings the Jewish people. Make your own plans to be a part of God’s story in Israel to see these amazing places and people.
Ezekiel 36:33-36 (NASB) This is what the Lord God says: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your wrongdoings, I will populate the cities, and the places of ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolated land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 And they will say, ‘This desolated land has become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste, desolated and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations around you that are left will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolated; I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.”