The earth mourns and dries up,
and the land wastes away and withers.
Even the greatest people on earth waste away.
—Isaiah 24: 4, NLT
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Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets. —Luke 5:5, ESV Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. —Mark 10:49 & 50, NIV At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant. —Job 14:7-9, NIV There were no true Jews living in Jerusalem at the time. For those who were lucky to die, what ran to their shallow graves was their own decadence. For those unlucky enough to run to be forced to say under their masters' tutelage, they were either forced to marry and work and live their lives in the heart of Babylon. Their deepest songs of praise were fodder for the drunken whips. Their simple vestments attracted scorn and shame to themselves. Were they too poor to follow their heart? Were they too unworthy to return to their homeland?
Not that everyone was poor, though. Some were well-off and actually held important positions of power in the empire. Some were scientists. Some were advisers. Even some were lodged as concubines in the king's own harem! They had fruitful vines and shallow suns, enough to become kings and queens back in Judah. But for a moment, they forgot about Ephraim and Manasseh; about the parting seas and rocky waters, about the sun of battle and the quest for justice. For some, life was is they never left at all. Their kids knew Hebrew and Greek and Persian. They could make their little tabernacles and wave their own sacrifices on the holy days. They were still circumcised, although some wanted their foreskins back in order to mingle with the locals. Stories about Jerusalem were a far and distant fantasy as Gilgamesh and Troy. Being who they were was a heritage, but it was time to change. That is, until Cyrus allowed them to return. For those who survived captivity, this was a dream come true. For others who never wanted to leave their comfort, returning was never in their plans! But for those who have lived among the pagans, their lives needed to be expunged. As they marched to Jerusalem, the one-barren ground began to flourish again. The plows were sharpened, and the livestock began to regain its strength. What became of their Temple, their pride and glory, was reduced to rubble. They had to rebuild it as soon as they can. And what was left of the tree stump that awaited for them? Well, a small flower started to bloom in its heart... Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. —1 Peter 1:8 & 9, ESV Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack. Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain. —Genesis 44:1 & 2, NIV So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ -Mathtew 6:31, NIV Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. -Exodus 14:21 & 22, NIV |
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